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Security plan for coastal areas

     New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today outlined various measures for security in coastal areas. The cabinet decided to spend over Rs 500 crores in the next five years on coastal security. After the CCS meeting, Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukerjee said: "Approve a scheme for strengthening the coastal security by coastal patrolling and surveillance in the coastal areas. A scheme has been worked out by the home ministry which will have a cost of 400 crore rupees over a period of five years and 111 crore rupees non-recurring expenditure over a period of five years, total 511 crore. The main feature of this scheme is to have special maritime police stations with specialised training to deal with the maritime offences from around the shore." The main feature of this scheme is to have special maritime police stations with specialised training to deal with the maritime offences from around the shore. The new proposal includes a three-layer security where the Indian Navy will patrol the high seas, the Coast Guard will patrol the sea, and coastal police will be deployed to guard the sea shores. The Committee also reviewed the security situation in insurgency- hit areas, including Jammu and Kashmir. Violence has increased in Andhra Pradesh, where after talks broke down between the state government and the Maoist rebels last week. "We had a review of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Naxalite affected areas. The home minister gave brief on the prevailing situation and what steps are being taken to tackle the situation," Mukherjee later told reporters.

One dies as tents collapse at Allahabad fair (Go To Top)

     Allahabad: Heavy rainfall and storm early this morning tore apart the makeshift tent enclosures erected on the banks of river Prayag, to accommodate saints and devotees who had gathered for the celebration of the Magh Mela. While one person died instantly, at least five persons received injuries. More than 20 lakh people have arrived to take a holy dip at the confluence of the holy Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswati to mark the Hindu holy month of "Magh". BS Ojha, the District Official overseeing the arrangements, said: "One person died,we still have to identify him and five are injured among which one was serious and has been sent to the city hospital. We will investigate the whole case and strict action will be taken against guilty." Initial reports suggest that the structure was not stable as the holes on the ground made to hold the poles were not dug deep enough. The use of cheap polythene made matters worse and the water instead of sliding down, collected into a puddle, weighing down the roof. The saints are now compelled to live in open air after this mishap. They expressed unhappiness over the attitude of the Magh Mela Authority. "Rain and storm are natural calamities but at least authorities should consider all the odds that can take place. At least there should be no carelessness on the their part," said Basudevanandan Shankracharya.

India to chair tourism session in Thailand (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Minister of State for Tourism Renuka Chowdhury has been invited to chair emergency task force meeting of Executive Council of World Tourism Organisation at Phuket, Thailand, on January 31 to assess the tourism situation in South East Asia after tsunami. According to a press release, the meeting will be attended by the 29 member States of the Council, tsunami affected countries, countries generating tourism for the region, representatives of travel and tourism industry, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies and tourism experts from all over the world. After the assessment of the situation on the ground and detailed discussions, the meeting will suggested a plan of action for recovery of tourism in the region. The plan will be considered by the full meeting of Executive Council of the WTO next day.