New Delhi: Indian Defence Minister AK Antony is chairing a high-level meeting on coastal security at South Block.
The meeting is expected to review plans to set up a coastal command that will link up coastal and marine police and customs with the coast guard and Navy.
The meeting is likely to take stock of personnel and equipment requirements.
The navy has complained of delays in procurement of vital surveillance equipment including radars and of the need to tighten rules regarding grant of licences to fishing vessels.
Meanwhile, PTI also reports that Government has received inputs about the threat of an ‘aerial strike’ in Delhi around Republic Day, prompting Defence Minister to ask Air chief Air Marshal Fali Homi Major about the preparedness to meet the challenge.
Major is expected to give a detailed presentation to the minister on the measures taken by the Air Force.
These include deployment of MiG-29 fighters at Hindan Airbase on the outskirts of Delhi and installation of a sophisticated 'aerostat' radar, which is capable of detecting low-flying planes and other objects.
Antony also met Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor and Naval Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta regarding the preparedness of the defence forces.
"Intelligencef an aerial strike on Delhi by terrorists. During the security meeting with the Air Chief, the Defence Minister asked him to give a presentation on the measures taken by the IAF to secure the skies over the capital," Defence Ministry sources told PTI.
IAF recently deployed a detachment of three MiG 29 aircraft at the Hindan air base to tackle these threats only, sources said.
The aircraft have now been removed from the base but would be back there around Republic Day when the country's main parade is held in presence of the President, the premiere top political class and a foreign head of government or state.
(With inputs from PTI)
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