Securing the Northern Coast of Gujarat: Challenges and Responses

Chair: Nalin Dewan
Discussants: K. C. Pandey, M. L. Batham and J. S. Bhalla

The Northern coast of Gujarat (the Kutch and Saurashtra coast adjoining the Gulf of Kutch) is fast emerging as an industrial and energy hub of the country. This process of industrialisation has been further boosted by the proximity of the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Kutch, which has emerged as a major corridor for importing crude oil. Nearly 70 per cent of India’s crude oil is imported through this corridor.

However, there are growing worries about non-conventional threats as well as terrorist attacks and sabotage, which could potentially inflict massive damage. This paper seeks to highlight issues which could pose a potential security threat to the Gujarat coast. The paper also evaluates the measures undertaken by the government to address them, and suggest steps to improve coastal security.

Securing the Creek Area

The Northern coast of Gujarat is indented with several creeks. These creeks are all inter-connected by smaller water bodies and together they create an intricate maze of shallow and deep channels. The creek area has remained vulnerable to cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and arms and drugs trafficking. Interconnectivity of the creeks has made the border porous for infiltrators, smugglers, and militants, who have been using these routes to sneak into India. Mangroves and sand bars in the creeks also provide hideaways during low tide. The situation is made worse by the non-availability of any approach channels from Indian side to many of these smaller channels.

To secure the creek area, besides the deployment of Border Security Force (BSF), floating Border Out Posts (BOPs) have been set up. Aerial reconnaissance by unmanned aerial vehicles is also undertaken every fortnight for tracking infiltrators.

Despite all these measures, the creek area remains susceptible to cross-border infiltration and other illegal activities. This is primarily due to two reasons: firstly, patrolling in the creek areas is dependent on the timings of the tide as well as on weather conditions, and secondly, during the monsoon when the sea becomes rough, the BOPs are withdrawn from the creek area. They return to the creeks after nearly six months when the weather becomes better. During this intervening period, there is no means of keeping a strict vigil over the creek area.

Coastal Security Scheme

Dotted by numerous inlets, rivulets, small creeks and uninhabited islands, the coastline along the Gulf of Kutch remains vulnerable to infiltration and other illegal activities. While the small creeks and inlets facilitate clandestine landings, the islands are ideal hideaways for infiltrators, and criminals. The vulnerability is further accentuated by the lack of effective patrolling and surveillance.

The misuse of the coast by anti-national elements had compelled the government to take counter measures. Following the 1993 Mumbai bombings, ‘Operation Swan’ was launched to check infiltration and arms trafficking. The operation has been ongoing for more than fifteen years now and is hailed by the government as a success. However, there are no reports of any seizure of contraband or arrest of any infiltrator or criminal. The primary reason for such a dismal performance is the lack of interest shown by the central and state governments. The joint patrolling unit does not possess either proper equipment or the necessary manpower to carry out its duty effectively. For many years, trawlers hired by the state governments were used for patrolling. But it proved ineffective for several reasons. Firstly, the state government did not release adequate funds for hiring sufficient numbers of trawlers or for buying fuel. Secondly, the trawlers were no match to the speed boats used by the criminals.

Despite the coasts remaining highly vulnerable, very little attention has been paid to tighten coastal security all these years. It was only in the year 2006 that the government embarked upon a plan to secure the country’s coasts under the Coastal Security Scheme. The aim was to strengthen infrastructure for patrolling and surveillance of the country’s coastal areas, particularly the shallow areas close to coast. Sine then, the Coast Guard was entrusted with the responsibility of patrolling the entire coastline of the State.

Unfortunately, the coastal police stations lack proper infrastructure, equipment and manpower. Apart from these problems, coastal security is also contingent upon other factors such as: (a) the security of the ports, (b) the effective management of the maritime traffic; and (c) the movement of fishermen in the territorial waters.

One of the major draw backs of the coastal security scheme is the absence of any plan to strengthen port security. Given that these ports together handle a great bulk of India’s cargo coming into the country and are located close to the international border, the security of these ports cannot be neglected. There is a need to promptly review the security arrangement of these ports and formulate a plan to deploy a mix of Central industrial Security Force (CISF) as well as trained private security guards to secure and protect the ports.

One of the major issues in the management of the India-Pakistan maritime boundary is the crossing over of fishermen in to each other’s waters. This has not only led to tensions in bilateral relations with Pakistan, but also raised security concerns. Due to the non-resolution of the Sir Creek dispute, the international maritime boundary between the two countries is not delineated. Absence of a well demarcated boundary has not only made the task of guarding it difficult but has also created confusion in the minds of many fishermen regarding the extent of India’s territorial waters. Numerous cases of both Indian and Pakistani fishermen straying into each others territories are routinely reported.

While the government has initiated a number of schemes to safeguard the creek and coastal areas, many areas of concern still remain. A major challenge for the border guarding forces is the widening gap between the sanctioned and existing infrastructure and manpower. Delays in the release of funds by the government hinder their efforts to strengthen their capabilities. The lack of interest shown by the state police in pursuing cases of offenders at sea or in the border areas is another issue that is hampering the prevention of crimes in a major way. There is also laxity in the security arrangement of the ports. And finally the issue of Indian and Pakistani fishermen straying into each other’s territorial waters raises concerns about the possibility of Pakistan sending operatives into India.

The paper contains several recommendations, some of which are listed below:

• To make patrolling along the coast more effective, both the BSF and the Coast Guard should be provided with adequate infrastructure.
• Additional hovercraft and patrol boats with well protected mooring grounds should be provided to enable the BSF to better patrol and guard the creeks.
• A separate recruitment scheme for the CSPF should be formulated to attract young and agile persons.
• Border guarding forces along with the Coast Guard should be given powers of investigation and prosecution to more effectively curtail criminal activities along the borders and coasts.
• More costal police stations need to be established.
• All ports along the Gulf of Kutch should be made ISPS compliant, and should be guarded by a mix of government and private security personnel.

Points raised during the Discussion were:

• Unresolved boundary in the Creek areas is the core security concern.
• Pakistan has put up a large number of security posts along the Creek areas.
• There is increase in the activities of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistani Marine in these areas to push infiltrators.
• Bangladeshi nationals always attempt to sneak into Pakistan through the northern coast of Gujarat.
• There is no centralised agency in India to look after the coastal security. And, too many agencies lead to coordination problem. A United Headquarters may be created.
• The topography is very difficult, and is advantageous for the Pakistani.
• BSF is not mandated to guard the coastal areas, but the land borders.
• More BOPs need to be established in these areas.
• Intelligence need to be strengthened.
• Pakistani and Indian fisherman should be allowed to fish in both the waters.

Prepared by Dr. M. Amarjeet Singh, Research Assistant at IDSA.