The 134th meeting
of the Offshore Security Co-ordination Committee (OSCC) was held under the
Chairmanship of Director General, Indian Coast Guard, V S
Pathania at Varanasi on January 04th.
The
participants reviewed the preparedness and effectiveness of the
security of India's offshore installations.
Addressing the
meeting, Mr Pathania highlighted the importance of offshore energy
installations of the country and their security. He said that the possibility of assault by inimical
forces cannot be ruled out, stressing the need to stay focused and be ready
to take stringent offshore security measures at all times.
He cautioned that as a forum, OSCC cannot afford to ignore any factor impinging on offshore security and all stakeholders have to maintain thorough preparedness to respond promptly with coordinated and concerted efforts.
Most of the country’s offshore installations run by the Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation are situated in Mumbai offshore and off the Gujarat’s
coast within the striking distance of Pakistan. Coastal security assumes
significance in this context.