India seeks to snip string of pearls!!!

[ravinderpalrulez]

Highlights
•India is planning to fast-track military projects in territories on eastern, western seaboards
•Forward-operating bases will be set up in Tuticorin and Paradip in Odisha
•Plan to crank up force-levels and infrastructure in Andaman and Nicobar Command

NEW DELHI: India is now trying to fast-track long-pending plans to bolster its military presence in island territories on both the western and eastern seaboards to ensure it can keep a hawk-eye on the rapidly-militarising Indian Ocean Region (IOR), as well as protect its huge maritime interests there. .
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After "a naval detachment" (NavDet) was commissioned at Androth Island of Lakshadweep last month, the government has now accorded sanction for 2.18 acres of land for another such NavDet on Bitra island in the same archipelago.
.
"The aim is to first establish military presence in outlying islands through NavDets and then gradually build them up. Navy and Coast Guard units at Kavaratti, Minicoy, Agatti, Androth and other islands are also being progressively upgraded," said a defence ministry official.

The overall plan to bolster maritime and coastal security includes setting up of forward-operating bases (FOBs) at Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu) and Paradip (Odisha), smaller operational turn-around (OTR) bases at Kamorta, Campbell Bay, Shibpur and Diglipur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and NavDets at Bitra and and Minicoy islands in Lakshadweep. .
.
There is also, of course, the plan to crank up force-levels and infrastructure in the strategically-located Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), the country's last military outpost, to counter China's strategic moves in IOR as well as ensure security of sea lanes converging towards the Malacca Strait. .
.
Similarly, implementation of the coastal surveillance network scheme is also underway, with 36 radar stations coming up on the mainland, six in Lakshadweep and Minicoy, and four in Andaman and Nicobar in the wake of the 26/11 terror strikes. Phase-II includes radar stations at another 38 sites and eight mobile systems. .
.
But the progress has been excruciatingly slow in all such plans. The ANC - the country's only theatre command with all Army, Navy, IAF and Coast Guard forces under one commander - continues to grapple with woefully inadequate manpower, assets and facilities due to general politico-bureaucratic apathy as well as turf wars among the forces. .
.
The detailed project reports for the construction of OTR bases at Kamorta and Campbell Bay, for instance, are still to be prepared. Similarly, the 20 acres of land earmarked for the FOBs at Paradip and Tuticorin are yet to be handed over to the defence establishment. .
.
"Consultations between the defence ministry and the shipping ministry are in progress to resolve the issues at Paradip and Tuticorin. Such things do take time with inter-ministerial consultations, environmental clearances, fund allocations and the like. But the objective now is to speed up matters," said an official.
http://m.timesofindia.com/india/India-seeks-to-snip-string-of-pearls/articleshow/52628276.cms

 

[Joe Shearer]

Highlights
•India is planning to fast-track military projects in territories on eastern, western seaboards
•Forward-operating bases will be set up in Tuticorin and Paradip in Odisha
•Plan to crank up force-levels and infrastructure in Andaman and Nicobar Command

NEW DELHI: India is now trying to fast-track long-pending plans to bolster its military presence in island territories on both the western and eastern seaboards to ensure it can keep a hawk-eye on the rapidly-militarising Indian Ocean Region (IOR), as well as protect its huge maritime interests there. .
.
After "a naval detachment" (NavDet) was commissioned at Androth Island of Lakshadweep last month, the government has now accorded sanction for 2.18 acres of land for another such NavDet on Bitra island in the same archipelago.
.
"The aim is to first establish military presence in outlying islands through NavDets and then gradually build them up. Navy and Coast Guard units at Kavaratti, Minicoy, Agatti, Androth and other islands are also being progressively upgraded," said a defence ministry official.

The overall plan to bolster maritime and coastal security includes setting up of forward-operating bases (FOBs) at Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu) and Paradip (Odisha), smaller operational turn-around (OTR) bases at Kamorta, Campbell Bay, Shibpur and Diglipur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and NavDets at Bitra and and Minicoy islands in Lakshadweep. .
.
There is also, of course, the plan to crank up force-levels and infrastructure in the strategically-located AndamIt an and Nicobar Command (ANC), the country's last military outpost, to counter China's strategic moves in IOR as well as ensure security of sea lanes converging towards the Malacca Strait. .
.
Similarly, implementation of the coastal surveillance network scheme is also underway, with 36 radar stations coming up on the mainland, six in Lakshadweep and Minicoy, and four in Andaman and Nicobar in the wake of the 26/11 terror strikes. Phase-II includes radar stations at another 38 sites and eight mobile systems. .
.
But the progress has been excruciatingly slow in all such plans. The ANC - the country's only theatre command with all Army, Navy, IAF and Coast Guard forces under one commander - continues to grapple with woefully inadequate manpower, assets and facilities due to general politico-bureaucratic apathy as well as turf wars among the forces. .
.
The detailed project reports for the construction of OTR bases at Kamorta and Campbell Bay, for instance, are still to be prepared. Similarly, the 20 acres of land earmarked for the FOBs at Paradip and Tuticorin are yet to be handed over to the defence establishment. .
.
"Consultations between the defence ministry and the shipping ministry are in progress to resolve the issues at Paradip and Tuticorin. Such things do take time with inter-ministerial consultations, environmental clearances, fund allocations and the like. But the objective now is to speed up matters," said an official.
http://m.timesofindia.com/india/India-seeks-to-snip-string-of-pearls/articleshow/52628276.cms

It is not clear why we have to take our references from the so-called 'string of pearls'. What we are setting out to do has excellent precedent; this is what China itself did, as a first step before any other steps, strengthen its coastal defences, its infrastructure and strengthen its existing deployments. It is a mistake to think of aircraft carriers before working on coastal missile batteries, shore-based surveillance, anti-shipping, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft capabilities and a robust fishing fleet, coast guard and inshore defence capabilities.

 

[4GTejasBVR]

Good we are finally got a clue... First development of our own territories which itself will boost our fire power. Next step could be to make budget for several port projects in other countries. Do you remember India was first approached by Sri Lankans but was denied by then Congress party... Time for more tot among ship builders with in the country. Which could ramp up our capacity. Think about producing some 10 destroyers 10 frigates 2 Vikrant class carrier in shot time?

With new private players?

 

[Viny]

And all this madness to counter China is causing havoc on pearls (islands). Corals are bleached, pollution has increased and in an event of conflict this pristine natures wonder will be first to face the heaviest damages for no fault of its own.

I understand we should safe guard ourselves, but at what cost and is needed to be justified. Killing future for present is not a good way of moving forward.