Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 30: Chief secretary to the government of Karnataka T M Vijay Bhaskar, said that the state government has decided to provide 160 acres of land at Kanjar in the city outskirts to enable Indian Coast Guard to set up training centre. He said that land for the purpose will be acquired through Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board.

He was speaking after handing over Interceptor - C 448 speed boat specifically made and equipped to keep close watch on the developments. He appreciated the fact that this interceptor not only extends protection to the coast and supports security aspect, but also keeps eye against polluting the sea and saves lives of people facing danger.

The boat is 27.8 metres long and has a weight of 106 tonnes. It can travel at a speed of 45 nautical miles per hour and can travel between 20 and 500 nautical miles off the coast. This boat can also be used for the protection of fishermen and keep watch against polluting the sea etc. It will have one commanding officer and 12 staff.

Commander of Coast Guard's western region Anand Prakash Badola, speaking on the occasion, said that security forces have been keeping a close vigil on the coast after the terrorist attack on Mumbai. He said that 18 interceptors are being manufactured by Larsen and Toubro Ltd for the Coast Guard. "Out of these, the tenth C-448 boats have been deployed at Panambur centre - 3. This will function all the 24 hours of the day," he explained.

This boat was made at Surat shipyard. It is equipped with modern facilities, and it was launched on experimental basis during November last, said senior general manager of Laresen and Tourbo, Navneet R Krishan.

District commander S S Dasila, New Mangalore Port Trust president A V Raman, Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh, assistant commander Apoorva Sharma, zilla panchayat chief executive officer Selvamani, and assistant commissioner Madan Mohan, were present.