Mangaluru: Coastal surveillance off the Karnataka coast is all set to go seamless once the radar stations at Kundapur in Udupi and Belekeri in Uttara Kannada district go online. At present, the entire 320-km long coastline of Karnataka is under surveillance with the help of radar stations at Surathkal and Bhatkal, and is acting as the eyes of maritime and law enforcement agencies, noted DIG Surendra Singh Dasila , commander, Coast Guard, Karnataka.Interacting with media on eve of the 43rd Coast Guard Raising Day scheduled for February 1, Dasila said while the state government has given land for setting up a radar station at Belekeri, work of setting up a station at Kundapur will be taken up at the light house there in conjunction with the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Light Ships. “Some of the 26-odd radar stations including the one at Surathkal too are housed atop the light house,” Dasila said.Noting that the challenges for Coast Guard District Headquarters 3 in-charge of Karnataka-based at Panambur in its given area of responsibility are diverse, he said this ranges from safeguarding the nation’s maritime interest to protection of life and property at sea to preserving the marine environment. “We are doing this diligently with the aid of various sea-based, land-based and air-based assets placed at the command of the district headquarters 3,” Dasila said.With an offshore patrol vessel (OPV), four fast patrol vessels, two interceptor boats, interceptor crafts and air cushion vehicle aka hovercraft each at its disposal, he said the district HQ is poised for force augmentation with proposed addition of one more OPV during the current calendar area. This is in addition to the air enclave activated at the old airport in Bajpe with Dorniers from Daman and Kochi making regular sorties for surveillance.On the proposed hover port for the district HQ, Dasila said this facility is vital for maintenance and operation of the air cushion vehicles, could become operational in the next two years. “We have been allotted 15 acres at Bengre for this purpose,” Dasila said, adding safe harbouring spots have been created both seaward side and along the Gurupur. The hover port will have the capacity to house two more ACVs as and when the need for it arises, he said.“The DHQ 3 assets have enhanced safety and security of the state, providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief during natural and man-made disasters,” he said. “Efforts of the Coast Guard in Karnataka during cyclone Ochki resulted in saving 202 lives in 2017. This maritime force saved 209 lives in 2018 and has already saved 19 lives as on date in the current year. The force was officially raised on February 1, 1977,” Dasila added.

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