New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) Defence Minister A.K. Antony Thursday said India will beef up its maritime security to tackle any threat and an adviser on the matter will be appointed soon.
Antony said the Indian Navy is already looking after overall maritime security under the new maritime security plan.
“They (the navy) are in a better position” to deal with it, the defence minister told reporters on the sidelines of the four-day Navy Commanders Conference that began here.
Antony said: “Things are moving in right direction to appoint a maritime security adviser.”
“There is no issue at all,” he said, when asked if the government was facing any hiccup in appointing the adviser.
He said every coastal state in India will have a marine wing of its police and the states have already began establishing the force.
“Marine wing is a new concept. We will discuss how to strengthen it,” he said.
India is keen to beef up its coastal security in the wake of the Nov 26-29, 2008, attacks at key spots in Mumbai. Ten terrorists from Pakistan entered the city using the sea route. The mayhem, which claimed more than 170 lives, has put the focus on strengthening maritime security.
After the attack, multiple security agencies like the coastal police, Coast Guard and the navy were blamed.
India shares its maritime boundaries with seven countries. The Indian coastline extends to over 7,500 km making it the 15th longest in the world.