Chennai: Tamilnadu became the first state in the country to get a second Coast Guard district headquarters yesterday. State Governor Banwarilal Purohit inaugurated the second headquarters at Thoothukudi and it was necessitated by frequent issues pertaining to fishermen in the State.
Coast Guard DIG Arvind Sharma has taken over charge as the first district Commander of the district headquarters (Tuticorin). The inauguration was also attended by Commander of CG Region (East) Inspector General Paramesh Sivamani.
The first district headquarters is in Chennai. A statement issued by the Coast Guard said the Thoothukudi district headquarters has been set up to augment security mechanism on the eastern coast and the State. It would offer assistance to fishermen at sea during distress, handling anti-poaching operations, search and rescue missions and coastal security.
Operations in areas stretching to 680 km of the coastline along districts of Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari would be covered.
The district headquarters would function under the administrative and operational control of the Commander Coast Guard Region (East).