'Efforts on to protect sea frontiers'

By Our Staff Reporter

KANNUR, FEB. 25. The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, has said that the Union Government is committed to strengthening security measures for protecting the country's sea frontiers in the face of alarming rate of crime at sea that impinges upon the national as well as economic security of the country.

``We have innumerable challenges in our waters that are directly related to our security'', Mr. Fernandes said while speaking at a function of the Navy marking the commencement of work on the proposed Ezhimala Naval Academy at the project site here today. Citing a report of the International Maritime Bureau on the alarming rise of piracy and other crimes at sea, the Minister said that the report of the Task Force on Border Management, one of the four committees set up in the wake of the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee, highlighted the need for strengthening the security measures along the shores of the country.

The sea frontiers did not figure prominently in the country's security perception in the past, Mr. Fernandes said referring to the finding of the Task Force. ``If the country's frontiers are not safe, everything falls apart'', he said. Stating that the Task Force report would be presented to the Prime Minister, soon, the Defence Minister said the recommendations of the report would be implemented. The Navy and the Coast Guard were constantly on the watch for any activity that might impinge upon the country's security, he said.

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Section  : National
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