New Delhi, Jan 31 : India’s multi-mission maritime organisation Indian Coast Guard will celebrate its 46th Raising Day on Tuesday. From just seven surface platforms in 1978, the ICG has grown into a formidable force with 158 ships and 70 aircraft in its inventory and is likely to achieve targeted force levels of 200 surface platforms and 80 aircraft by 2025, a statement released by Defence Ministry said. As the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world, it has played a significant role in securing the Indian coasts and enforcing regulations in the maritime zones of India, the statement added.
“The ICG has saved over 1,200 lives at sea in the last one year and more than 11,000 since its inception. It has also rescued approximately 13,000 personnel till date during various ‘Aid to Civil Authority’ operations,” the statement said. One of the primary duties of the Indian Coast Guard is prevention of smuggling through maritime routes in its area of responsibility. “In the last one year, Coast Guard has seized drugs and contraband worth nearly Rs 4,000 crore.
Around Rs 12,000 crore of drugs and contraband have been seized by the ICG since its inception,” the statement said. The ICG has apprehended more than 13,000 crew and over 1,500 boats involved in illegal activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone. “Forty foreign crew and seven boats were apprehended by the ICG in 2021. It is also collaborating with littoral countries to combat transnational maritime crimes and enhance maritime safety in its area of responsibility and in the Indian Ocean Region,” the Defence Ministry said. It is also working in close coordination with Central and State agencies to put in place a robust coastal security mechanism, the Ministry added. The President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Raksha Mantri congratulated the Indian Coast Guard for its yeoman service to the nation, appreciating the remarkable role played by the service in securing the nation’s interests in the maritime zones, the statement said.
