Coast Guard undertakes operational sorties to boost surveillance off Karnataka

MANGALURU: Coast Guard (CG) Dornier 761 undertook operational sorties for 3-days for surveillance off Mangaluru from February 21 in a bid to boost Coast Guard's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities on India's west coast in Karnataka.
Air enclave at New Mangalore will improve CG's performance in its surveillance and reconnaissance roles off the coastal areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep Islands including uninhabited islands.
DIG S B Venkatesh, commander, Coast Guard Karnataka said presently, CG air enclave which was activated on September 2016 is without hangar critically required towards parking and technical maintenance activities for CG aircraft. In absence of this facility, aerial surveillance is being undertaken on a regular basis on detachment by CG Dornier from Kochi and Daman. Case for provision of state of art hangar is at final stage of approval by defence ministry.
CG Dornier Squadron 749 with a unit establishment of four Dornier aircraft will be positioned permanently here on completion of the aviation infrastructure. Dedicated aerial surveillance from CG air enclave will enhance and meet the long-felt need for air surveillance of the EEZ, as well as SAR and medical evacuation humanitarian missions in the state and waters adjoining the coast of Karnataka. It will also ensure prompt air-sea coordinated patrol, he said.
Also, Coast Guard district HQ Karnataka is closely pursuing land acquisition cases for the proposed Coast Guard Training Academy with Dakshina Kannada district administration, Venkatesh said. The state government has given in-principle approval for India Coast Guard to take over KIADB land here for setting up the training academy, which will enable this force to undertake its various charter of duties both on land, sea and air, he noted.