Adding another twist to the controversy, the Indian Coast Guard chief has said that the Sethusamudram project is bound to have security implications as the narrow shipping canal will be vulnerable to threats from non-state actors in the region.The Director General of Coast Guard, Vice Admiral R F Contractor, said on Thursday that threats arising from the project have been examined, but additional security measures will be put in place once the canal opens for shipping traffic.“It is a major project and there are bound to be security threats. If a freeway is opened up for ships to transit, things like piracy can take place,” said Contractor, speaking to the media a day ahead of the 31st anniversary of the Coast Guard.His statement comes a week after Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta raised concerns that the canal may not be useful for international merchant shipping traffic as it is designed only for smaller vessels. Mehta’s statement had raised a controversy, with the AIADMK and the BJP using it in their argument against the project.Referring to threats from the LTTE, Contractor said that the proximity of the channel to Sri Lankan waters is also a matter of deep concern. “Close proximity with a neighbouring country with which we already have a problem” is also a matter of concern, he said. “It is a narrow channel and if a ship has a problem (while crossing), that also has to be sorted out,” he added.However, he said that once the channel becomes operative, comprehensive security mechanisms can be put into place to mitigate any threat. Giving examples, he pointed out that similar security packages have been put together for other channels like the Suez canal and the Panama canal.The Coast Guard is also modernising its fleet to counter such security threats. It is in the process of acquiring long-range patrol vessels and maritime reconnaissance aircraft to patrol the waters.The force has already put in a request to the Defence Ministry to procure six medium-range maritime multi-role aircraft with “endurance of six-eight hours” by 2012. In addition, it is looking to boost its surface fleet strength to 217 vessels by the same time.
