Talking to presspersons on the sidelines of a function here on Saturday, Mr. Pillai said the Centre has been strengthening the Coast Guard and Coastal Security Police. Additional coastal patrolling boats were being pressed into service. Mr. Pillai said placing of radars along the east and the west coast by next year would help in keeping a constant vigil on the movement of vessels.
Asked about the delay in procurement of boats, Mr. Pillai said 110 boats earmarked for the first phase would be available by May.
The Central Cabinet has given approval for procurement of 180 boats in the second phase. The orders for procurement will be issued in March, he said.
Mr. Pillai said there would be no let up in the anti-naxal operations in the light of the abduction and release of Malkangiri Collector R. Vineel Krishna.
He said there was nothing to warrant a re-look into the security for the collectors in the naxalite-affected areas, which, he considered adequate. “Mr. Krishna had entered the village without security,” Mr. Pillai said.
He said the positive outcome of Mr. Krishna's abduction was the impact of the development measures taken up by the officials.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm for development,” he said, and added that naxalites like to be seen as pro-development.
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