TN police to have new Marine Wing

As per the plan, the unit will enforce the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act along with coastline of 13 districts under a Superintendent of Police. The unit will have one DSP ranked official, 10 inspectors of police, 8 sub-inspectors of police, 53 police constables and 19 police drivers.

An exclusive Marine Enforcement Wing with officials in uniform was created exclusively to regulate the Act deputed from the police department but under over all administrative control of Commissioner of fisheries / director of fisheries to enforce the Act. The specially created uniformed force would implement all related notification to conserve and manage the fishing resources and also will undertake search and relief operation during natural calamities. The unit will have to handle illegal fishing and threats from the miscreants engaged in illegal fishing.

It was decided to create a separate unit as the Coastal Security Group, will be mainly focussing on marine defence, control of extremism and trafficking etc in the territorial water. The total annual expense towards creating the new unit is pegged at Rs. 10.55 crore in the first year. This includes expenses for salary, fuel and vehicles.

While the fisheries department will be permitted to purchase or hire required patrolling boats, arms for the unit members will be issued by the police department. The DGP will be vested with the powers relating to the service matters such as recruitment, transfer and posting of police personnel so recruited for the Marine Enforcement Wing.