Launch of a new book “India’s coastal Security, Challenges, Concerns and Way Ahead” By Brig Hemant Mahajan, YSM ( Retd) At the Royal Connaught Boat Club, Boat Club Road, Pune on Tuesday, 26th September 2017 At 6.00 pm

The President and Council Members of the Indian Maritime Foundation have great pleasure in inviting you to the Launch of a new book “India’s coastal Security, Challenges, Concerns and Way Ahead” By Brig Hemant Mahajan, YSM ( Retd) At the Royal Connaught Boat Club, Boat Club Road, Pune on Tuesday, 26th September 2017 At 6.00 pm RSVP Programme Overleaf Tel : 020-41315976, 26169168, Mob :9096701253, 9823655692 E-mail : indmarfdn50@ gmail.com, hemantmahajan12153@yahoo.co.in Programme 6.00 - 6.30 pm Tea and Refreshments 6.31 - 6.40 pm   Welcome Address by Commodore R Vir, President IMF 6.41 - 6.45 Address by Lt Gen Manoj Pande,AVSM,VSM,Chief of Staff Southern Command(Presentation Memento) 6.46 -6.50 Book Launch by all Speakers 6.51- 7.05 Introduction of Book by Brig Hemant Mahajan,YSM 7.06- 7.10 Address by Shri Avinash Dharmadhikari,IAS 7.11 -7.15 Address by DGP Pravin Dixit,DGP Maharashtra Police(Retd) 7.16 -7.25 Address by ,R Adm Grewal,NM, Dy Comdt 7.26- 7.35 Vote of Thanks and Presentation of Mementos 7.36 onwards National Anthem About the Book ‘Purlia Arms Drop’ Case highlighted our failures in airspace security and coordination between various intelligence and security agencies. 26/11 attack on our Financial capital, heavy civilian casualties, and damage to the property raised eyebrows of all – political leaders, ‘thinkers’ in the capital as well as men in uniform. Remarkable ease at which, the attackers landed in Mumbai and inflicted heavy losses highlighted our ‘failures’ in our coastal security. India’s western coast has been subjected to smuggling of gold, electronic goods, narcotics, arms ammunition, explosives and FICN, since long. Infiltration of Bangladeshis on east coast, smuggling of arms ammunition for Maoists, poaching in island territories is a big threat. Various bomb blasts and 26/11terror attack, activities in Indian Ocean by countries like China and North Korea does give rise to our concerns for the coastal security and security of trade routes/ sea lanes. To my mind, this in fact , is a ‘WAKE UP’ call for all. India’s western coast has been subjected to smuggling of gold, electronic goods, narcotics, arms ammunition, explosives and FICN, since long. Infiltration of Bangladeshis on east coast, smuggling of arms ammunition for Maoists, poaching in island territories is a big threat. Various bomb blasts and 26/11terror attack was an awakening call. To do justice to the perspectives of these stakeholders would take a tome running into many thousands of pages. Yet, Brig Mahajan needs to be complimented for the valiant effort he has made to present at least the major issues concerning the more prominent of these stakeholders. The chief value of his work is the strong centrality that he has provided to the several practical and, in most cases, eminently viable recommendations that would significantly enhance coastal security. Having travelled extensively along the west coast, with many important forays along the east coast and our island territories on both seaboards, and having spoken first hand to a large number of diverse stakeholders, the author has many primary sources of information, which lends his work both credibility and pertinence. Comprehensive national maritime and coastal security policy, better management of maritime boundaries, EEZ, traffic and effective mechanism for coordination is required. Operational capabilities of Indian Navy ,Indian Coast Guard, Marine police, other agencies require to be improved further. Coastal States have to be empowered. Port security, security of offshore installations and Island territories is important. Actionable intelligence, good surveillance in territorial waters will prevent security breaches. International best practices should be followed to improve our coastal security. There is tremendous scope for jointmanship among all stakeholders. This will improve intelligence collection, training, sharing of technology. MDA Cooperation, cross attachment with each other, joint exercises during high threat periods will benefit all. Many positives have evolved since last eight years because of on-the-job training and learning. Establishment of JOC, improved coastal surveillance and infrastructure have improved coastal security. Intelligence generated is better. A large number of coastal security exercises have been very useful. Many operations based on intelligence inputs are being launched to prevent breaches in security. Induction of Hovercrafts, UAVs, creation of a more effective network of intelligence through fishermen and national coastal security corps should be done at the earliest. As we hurtle though the opening decades of the current century, inadequate coastal-security will continue to impose large vulnerabilities upon India. Brigadier Mahajan’s book, with its emphasis upon practicable and viable action points, is an important attempt to reduce the deleterious effects of these vulnerabilities. As such, it is a valuable addition to the body of knowledge that informs (or ought to) all those concerned with planning, legislating, coordinating, executing and ensuring India’s coastal security. A comprehensive book by Brig. Hemant Mahajan on “India’s Coastal Security, Challenges, Concerns & Way Ahead” should be read by all, including the security forces, policy makers, corporate, security experts, technology providers, and many more. This book will generate informed discussion among all stakeholders for improving the coastal security further. India’s Coastal Security, Challenges, Concerns & Way Ahead”BY BRIG HEMANT MAHAJAN, YSM,Pages-336.Price-Rs 600/-,Madhavi Prakashan,Dattakuti,1416,Sadashiv Peth,Pune-411030,Maharashtra,Tele-020-24474762,020-24475372,MOB-09325097494.E Mail-madhavipublisher@gmail.com