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For a long time, the coastal regions have been one of the major gateways for intrusions and invasions. Considering a vast country like India, with a coastline of almost 7516.6 km, exercising proper security is crucial. However, maintaining coastal security is not easy. Here is everything you need to know about coastal security in India.
Why is coastal security important for a nation?
Coastal security for any country is important to tackle border issues and curb the threats of invasions and terror attacks. It is extremely relevant to addressing a country’s security needs. Here are some primary reasons why coastal security is important for a country like India:
Optimal national security and safety
This aspect is the first reason to opt for coastal protection.
The Indian coastline is vast and covers the entire peninsular part where many locations aren’t easily accessible. These sites might include stranded beaches, barren areas, and more. With no human settlements near such places, it becomes easier for terrorists to enter the country without being noticed.
Therefore, having a strong system of coast protection is paramount.
Protection of marine economy
Oil and fish markets in India contribute to a significant portion of India’s economy. To ensure the smooth conduction of these activities, the need for coastal security becomes vital for India.
Mineral wealth
Indian beaches have huge reserves of several valuable minerals like ilmenite, monazite, zircon, etc. Without proper security, there is a chance of unscrupulous parties exploiting these mineral deposits or carrying out illegal activities, depleting India of its resources.
Avoid infiltration of people through coasts
Unmanned coastal regions can often act as a path facilitating infiltration of enemy forces and other non-residents. It can also serve as a gateway for carrying out illicit and illegal activities like drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorist activities, etc. Hence, it is crucial that coastal security be strengthened, especially in a country like India with a large coastline.
Why is Coastal Security important in India?
The navy and coastal forces play a major role in managing the threats and concerns from maritime terrorism. However, no proper measure has been undertaken till date to handle these issues, primarily due to a lack of assessment of the dangers. For example, after the Pulwama attack, it was revealed that terrorists were planning to enter the country through sea routes.
Apart from that, drug trafficking has increased a lot, which is one of the major funding sources of terrorism. Therefore, the risk of terrorist activities is increasing each day. If the government does not take appropriate measures now, it can put the country’s safety and security at high risk.
Primary challenges in Indian coastal security
The coastal security measures and concerns in India have undoubtedly evolved significantly in the past years. However, there are several loopholes and challenging factors that make the beaches vulnerable. Here are some of the most significant challenges faced in coastal security in India:
Improper security implementation at state levels
One major concern for the Indian government is the improper implementation of coastal securities at state levels. There are nine states and four union territories that comprise the coastal states in the country. The security measures and protocols vary from one state to the other, causing discrepancies and internal conflicts. The government needs to mitigate these concerns at the earliest, otherwise, it will become extremely challenging for the country to prevent further attacks and reduce the threats.
Lack of skills and coordination in coastal police
Not many efforts have been put into place to train the coastal police departments and improve their skills and coordination. For example, there is no proper communication between the coastal border forces of different states. Hence, attacking individual posts becomes very easy for terrorists.
Apart from this, the police forces don’t use high-end security weapons and other setups, so keeping an eye on the activities becomes tedious. According to the policeman to population ratio, only 131 policemen can be allotted for every 100,000 civilians, which further disrupts smooth communication.
Rugged coastal topography
The Indian coastline spreads over a vast area in terms of length. In some places, the beach is relatively thin, almost non-existent, whereas they extend over hundreds of kilometres in other areas.
Also, the coast is not plain and easily accessible throughout the entire peninsular region. The topography is rugged and uneven. For example, the east coast is divided into several deltas formed by the rivers. Managing securities in these delta regions is not easy. Similarly, the western coast is thinner, varying between 10 kms to 80 kms. With such short space, it can be a real problem in maintaining relevant security posts.
Conclusion
A country as diverse as India needs a lot of protection and security measures to prevent invasions, natural calamities, threats to national assets, etc. However, the coastal security of India is not that strong, which is why the concerns are increasing every day.
As the security is yet to flourish, the Indian coastal region offers unparalleled opportunities for terrorism and other unscrupulous activities to thrive and grow.
Therefore, establishing proper security and protection measures is critical, especially in areas where the population is not developed and are vulnerable to external attacks and threats.
