We have never tried to learn

Three years ago from now on 26/11/2008, whole “The Sunday Indian” team was busy with its deadline to complete edition. Suddenly a bullet of breaking news horrified all of us as terrorists from Pakistan storm financial capital of India. They entered in Indian waters and intruded in Mumbai for genocide of innocents. After that attack suddenly whole establishment woke up and there were hapless cries and seething anger against porous borders.

Mumbai terror attacks had forced the government to review security measures to avert a repeat of another 26/11 and more than Rs.5000 crore were allotted to upgrade coastal security. Ironically even after three years of terror attack many critical coastal security measures are languishing in government files as mere proposals.

Confidential government documents says different story after three years. Mumbai continues to remain most vulnerable to another terror attack in lack of proper security measures. After one month of that horrific attack expeditious and time bound setting up of a coastal radar chain at a cost of Rs.350 crore was ordered in December 2008. But this project has not been implemented yet. To prevent fishing vessel like the MV Kuber from being hijacked and used by terrorists, Automatic Identification Systems on fishing boats at a cost of Rs.100 crore and Biometric I Cards for Indian fishermen were recommended. Ironically till today thousands of fishermen still use fake IDs without any name or photographs.

Even after three years several reports of IB and Home ministry indicate that our coastline is under continuous threat from intruders. Our major problem is that all measures pertaining to security look good on paper. Various think tanks shooting in their suggestions every now and then but in reality these are never been implemented. CAG report clearly states that coastal security still remained a grave concern as it is ill-equipped.

Manning Indian coastline is not an easy task. There is need for proper coordination from both the Central and State Governments to prevent any untoward incident that may cost our nation again.