Odisha today asked the Centre to provide 43,000 more biometric cards to ensure cent per cent coverage of fishermen on the state’s coast while claiming that 90 per cent have been supplied with such cards. 90 per cent fishermen have been supplied with biometric cards. We have asked for another 43,000. On 43,000 cards being made available to us, 100 per cent fishermen in Odisha will be having such cards. We have also received the card readers, informed Asit Tripathy, Principal Secretary Home told newsmen after his meeting with the Union Cabinet Secretary through video conferencing over the issue of coastal security. The Principal Secretary said while 18 marine police stations are functioning on the state’s coast, 13 have been newly added.He said the state government has sought advanced motorboats from the Centre for efficient functioning of these police stations. We have 18 marine police stations. The boats we had received in the first phase are almost not suitable for the shallow creeks on our coast. We have requested the Centre for providing us with boats for our newly opened 13 marine police stations. We have requested for boats that are suitable for movement in shallow creeks and mangrove forests, Tripathy said.The Principal Secretary said other national issues were also discussed which were reviewed by the Cabinet Secretary. The meeting was also attended by DGP K B Singh and senior officials of various departments.
Eastern Media Limited