Kavaratti (Lakshadweep), December 24: Defence Minister A K Antony today urged maritime forces to remain ever vigilant and not to lower their guard at any point of time as pirates have “come to our backyard”.
“Seas can be neglected only at our peril,” he said declaring open Indian Coast Guard’s District Headquarters (Lakshadweep & Minicoy) here. He also commissioned a Coast Guard station at Minicoy.
He said as natural resources on land were getting rapidly depleted and nations turning to seas for sustenance, Coastguard had a crucial role to play in safeguarding country’s marine wealth.
The Coastguard would be taking more precautionary measures in all the islands in the country and “we are going to create more assists”, he said.
The government had accorded necessary sanction for the establishment of coast guard enclave at Minicoy, he said.
–Agencies