Paradip: Three marine police stations, including the state's oldest one in the township of Jagatsinghpur district, are ill-equipped and understaffed.

Plagued by infrastructure deficiencies, the police stations are struggling hard to keep an eye on infiltration.

The state's first marine police station began functioning from March 1, 2009. Two other such facilities had become operational at Jatadhari and Bandara in 2014.

According to the coastal security plan guidelines issued by the Centre, each of the marine station should have 81 police personnel for patrol and law and order duty. However, the manpower put together in three police stations stand at 65. As a result, the police stations are struggling hard for day-to-day operation.

The guidelines also specify the provisions that each of the stations should have life-saving jackets, binoculars, first aid equipment, patrol jeeps, telephone, VHF set, public address system and emergency tools. Besides, a marine police station must have one five-tonne capacity speedboat at its disposal. But apart from the station at Paradip township, the two others facilities lack these basic infrastructure.

While Paradip marine police station has three sea-worthy vessels at its disposal, the other two centres are not armed with vessels.

"The marine police stations are not properly equipped to face with exigencies of the coastal security threat. Two of the marine police stations are bereft of even sea-worthy vessels. Without vessels, the very concept of coastal security patrol by marine police stations stands defeated. The marine police wing is a vital component of the coastal security mechanism. As this wing is enfeebled, there is enormous pressure on the coast guard to maintain the vigil," confided a coast guard personnel.

"Higher authorities have been apprised of the staff vacancies and infrastructure deficiencies. We are hopeful that the issues will be redressed shortly," said additional superintendent of police Bishnu Charan Mishra.