Indian Homeland Security News and Updates

Rs 50cr security blanket for east coast oilfields.

NEW DELHI: The oil ministry is setting up an elaborate surveillance system to safeguard mid-sea oil and gas production facilities spread across the east coast, which account for a major chunk of domestic production, against snooping, damage from stray vessels and attacks by pirates or terrorists.

The surveillance system, known as VATMS (vessel and air traffic management system), consists of a network of radars and other mechanisms to track marine and air traffic. It gives advance warning against unwanted or stray boats orships as well as aircraft. This in turn alerts oilmen on platforms and coastal and air defence forces to initiate preventive action.

On Sunday Mumbai police busted a plan to blow up ONGC crude storage near the metro, signalling that terro outfits may now be targetting oil installations.The need for extra security in the east coast has arisen since the region has seen major discoveries in recent times. At the same time, there has been increased Chinese presence in Myanmar offshore, literally a stone's throw from some of the Indian installations.

Besides, recent reports have given rise to apprehensions that unoccupied islands dotting the region right up to Indonesia, which have been used as a haven by pirates, may be used by anti-India elements operating out of Bangladesh to launch attacks on oil platforms.

There are about 58 acreages that have been auctioned by the government. The initial cost of setting up the system is estimated at Rs 50 crore. This will be pooled by all the companies that are operating in the region in proportion to their last year's profit. A similar system is in place in the western coast which cradles ONGC's Mumbai High field, a major source of oil in the country.

Among the major finds in the east, Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries made the biggest gas discovery in the country and an oilfield off the Andhra coast. It has started production from both. State-run ONGC will be bringing on stream several other finds in the coming years. Cairn has been pumping oil for years and many others expect to strike fresh reserves. With so many fields, the east coast could soon replace western offhsore as the country's energy bowl.