In an effort to tighten security at the sea-front, the government on Monday held a high-level meeting on coastal security and took stock of the measures to plug loopholes in this route.The meeting attended by National Security Adviser (NSA) M K Narayanan, Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, BSF Director General M L Kumawat and representatives of Navy and Coast Guards had a detailed discussion on the situation along the coastline and the steps being taken to beef up security in the wake of the Mumbai terror strikes.The 10 terrorists who stormed Mumbai on November 26 had come from Karachi via the sea route."The Home Ministry reviewed the coordination among central security agencies, state police, the navy and the coast guard. The meeting had a threadbare discussion about the security requirements, including fast-moving vessels and sophisticated naval equipment to protect Indian waters," a Home Ministry official said.The government has been giving top priority for coastal security considering the vulnerability of the 7,516 km-long Indian coastline and is trying to plug all loopholes in this front following repeated intelligence inputs of security threats.The Centre is also giving emphasis for speedy implementation of the coastal security scheme being implemented since 2005-06.The Union Home Ministry had launched a coastal security scheme over two years ago and sanctioned 73 police stations in nine coastal states and four Union Territories.
