Why in news?

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) seized 86 kg of suspected heroin worth Rs 602 crore from a Pakistani boat, which was on its way to Sri Lanka via Tamil Nadu.

The drugs were seized off the Porbandar coast in Gujarat during a joint ICG operation with the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

The action was undertaken as part of Operation Sagarmanthan series that aims to make India drug-free.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• India’s Maritime security – Importance, mechanism, issues
• Indian Coast Guard (ICG)

Importance of maritime security

• Maritime security of vast coastlines
  • India has along 7,516-km coastline, including island territories, and a 2 million sq km Exclusive Economic Zone.
  • The importance of maritime security was evident following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
• Economic and energy security
  • 95% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value transit through the seas.
  • Strengthening the country’s maritime security is also necessary as India is focusing on becoming a blue economy.
  • The Indian government is set to clear the Deep Ocean Mission for the blue water economy.
• Geostrategic Need
  • China is penetrating into the Indian Ocean through Pakistan and Myanmar.
  • Enhanced maritime security will give a boost to India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth of All in the Region) doctrine.
    • Under this doctrine, India has envisioned a role of net security provider for itself in the IOR.

Mechanisms to ensure maritime security

• Coastal border management was institutionalised in 2004 with the establishment of the Department of Border Management in the MHA.
• However, after the ‘26/11’ attacks, coastal and maritime security underwent a paradigm shift. These included:
  • A three-tier security grid the Indian Navy, the coast guard, and the marine police;
  • Increased electronic surveillance using Coastal radar chain, Automatic identification system (AIS), Vessel traffic management and information system
  • Establishment the National Command Control Communication and Intelligence (NC3I) Network;
  • Sagar Prahari Bal for protecting of naval bases has been raised by Navy;
  • Establishment of Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).
• 

Associated Issues in maintaining maritime security

• There are no formal or commonly accepted definitions of concepts like ‘maritime security’, ‘coastal security’ and ‘coastal defence’. Sometimes, it leads to vagueness.
• Multiple institutions are involved and there is lack of coordination.
• Turf war between MHA and Ministry of Defence (MoD). Demands are being made to bring Coast Guard under the control of
• Fishermen are considered as the eyes and ears for coastal security. However, discontent among fishermen community, involvement of politics in fishermen issues etc. are further complicating the security architecture.
• Inadequate infrastructure, acute shortage of manpower is posing challenges in providing maritime security in India.

Indian Coast Guard (ICG)

• About
  • The ICG is a maritime armed force and search and rescue agency that protects India's maritime and national interests.
  • It was established in February 1977 by the Coast Guard Act of the Parliament of India and operates under the Ministry of Defence.
• ICG's missions include
  • Protecting artificial islands, offshore terminals, and other installations
  • Protecting and assisting fishermen and mariners at sea
  • Marine Pollution control