The Hindu
- Beacons are in the final stage of testing
- Mobile telephone service providers told to set up towers along the coast
- They will help fishermen in distress to call Coast Guard
Mangalore, Dec 5: The Union Government has entrusted Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with a project to develop low cost beacons for fishing boats to enable fishermen in the sea to call the Coast Guard in times of crisis, according to Commandant Manoj V Baadkar, Commander, Coast Guard District Karnataka.
Addressing presspersons aboard ICGS Savitribai Phule, new fast patrol vessel of Coast Guard which here on Monday, he said they were called emergency position indication radio beacons or EPIRBs.
In the West Coast, there would be a receiving station at Porabander, he said.
The beacons would help Coast Guard personnel to locate the boats that faced trouble in the sea once fishermen established their link, he said.
They would help in rescue operations. The testing of beacons was in the final stage, he said.
He said once the beacons were ready, the Government could supply them to fishermen at a subsidized rate.
Baadkar said the Union Government had urged mobile telephone service providers to set up their transmission towers along the coastal line. This would help fishermen to communicate easily with rescue agencies in times of crisis.
The Commandant said Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy did not convened any meeting with the Coast Guard to discuss aspects related to make communication and lifesaving jackets mandatory for fishing boats.
Earlier, the Coast Guard had urged the Government to ensure that fishermen carried lifesaving jackets with them.
Earlier Report: