Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Jan 8: Two more radar centres will be installed at Kundapura and Belekeri of Uttara Kannada by the Indian Coast Guard to increase the safety of Karnataka coast. This information was conveyed by Praveen Kumar Mishra, Karnataka Commander DIG of Coast guard force district no 3.

Speaking to fishermen at Panambur on Saturday, Mishra said, “At present, with the help of radar centres at Surathkal and Bhatkal, the 320-km long coast of Karnataka is being monitored."

He said, “Radar centre at Belekeri is almost ready and the work on the radar centre at Kundapura is in progress. Each radar centre will cover 30 nautical miles area of sea from the shore. The camera in the radar will cover five to seven nautical miles. The radar centres were installed after the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Action is being taken to empty the fuel from M V Princess Miral, which sunk near Ullal.”

M V Badkar, commander general of western zone, said, “The DPR of Indian Coast Guard Academy, which will be built in Kenjar is ready and the same will be submitted to the government. The academy will be spread over an area of 160 acres. The work will begin soon.”

Sushmita Rao, deputy director of fisheries said, “Transponders will be installed in fishing boats that are longer than 20 meters. This will help the fishermen to get help in case of emergency and also shows the spot of the boat in case of search and rescue operation.”