State zeroes in on Institute of Coastal Policing

With the Union Ministry of Home Affairs giving its assent to set up a National Institute of Coastal Policing, the state government is throwing its weight behind the proposed institute to bring it to Kerala.

The home ministry has recently submitted an expression of interest to the Ministry of Home Affairs, in this regard. The state has every chance to get the institute, considering the infrastructure available here, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan informed Express. “The presence of the Naval Academy and Academy of Coast Guard gives a boost to Kerala’s chances. We have identified several spots in Kannur, Kozhikode and Kasargod for the proposed institute.

“The only problem raised by the Centre is that Kerala is in the southern most tip of the country and policemen may have difficulty reaching the place. But that will not be a major issue since the Navy and Coast Guard Academies are already operational in the state. We are planing to allot land for the institute in Kannur where similar academies are situated.” Sources said that the proposed institute would offer training to 7,500 police personnel from 77 coastal police stations across the country. Phase-1 of the Coastal Security Project was launched after the Mumbai terror strike in 2004 and about Rs 523 crore was spent in the first phase of the project.

Now the Ministry of Home Affairs is launching phase-II of the project with a budget of Rs 1,580 crore. “Ten more coastal police stations will be set up in the state, apart from the eight already functioning here,” police sources said.