**Bhubaneswar: ** As the recurring costs borne for coastal security are very high, Odisha Government on Friday raised the point before the Government of India during a video conferencing with the Cabinet Secretary and urged for cost sharing to make the Central Government’s scheme of marine police stations function with optimum output.
Prominent among others, the high level coastal security related meeting with the Union Government’s Cabinet Secretary was attended by Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, Home Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy and Odisha DGP R.P. Sharma.
Briefing media after the video conferencing, Odisha Home Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy said, “Today we put forth our issues relating to the coastal security before the Government of India. Our issues are that we’ve set up the marine police stations and are shouldering the recurring costs like operating power boats and maintaining them, besides manning the police stations. Today we requested Government of India that we’ve completed all the schemes required for the coastal security and kindly provide us with the requisite financial assistance. And, it has been noted by the Government of India.”
Informing in detail, the Home Secretary told media, “We’ve provided the coastal police stations with about 700 manpower. 700 more manpower has to be provided. Apart from that, we’ve roped in about 70 experienced boat drivers from Navy and Coast Guard. Out of 15 boats, 13 are now functional. 40 more boats are to be added soon to our coastal security fleet. Expenditure will further escalate. Besides, we’ve to construct jetties.”
Odisha DGP R.P. Sharma informed, “An important issue Odisha has been flagged in today’s meeting. While nine marine police stations are fully functioning here in the State, nine more are being made functional. The initial capacity building cost for that purpose, patrolling, manpower and equipping them technically are the recurring expenditure costs which are very high.”
“Hence, in order to enable the State for frisking optimally, the cost-sharing point was raised. Central Government should provide adequate assistance to the State Government to ensure that the marine police stations function with optimum output,” the DGP viewed.
