Paradip: A two-day comprehensive Coastal Security Exercise Sagar Kavach-2 involving all maritime security agencies was launched by the Indian Navy off the Odisha and West Bengal coast on Wednesday.
The exercise was executed under the aegis of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, FOCINC (East) who also exercises the authority of Commander-in-Chief, Coastal Defence (East). About 2500 personnel from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, State and U/T Administration, Marine Police, Fisheries, Customs, Intelligence Agencies, Light Houses, Ports, Forest etc. are engaged in the exercise.
The exercise aims to assess the efficacy and robustness of the coastal security mechanism while dealing with asymmetric threat emanating from the sea. Indian Naval ships along with assets of the Coast Guard and other coastal security agencies have been deployed to augment surveillance in the area.
Enhanced security measures have been instituted and extensive aerial surveillance is being undertaken by Dornier aircraft and helicopters. The exercise is being closely monitored at Joint Operations Centre (East) at Visakhapatnam which is the nodal hub for all coastal security operations and exercises in the area of operations.
The main objective of the exercise is to protect the waterways and counter terrorist attacks. Various departments of Odisha and West Bengal are involved in this exercise.
