File picture of marine police station in Paradip

Kendrapara, Dec. 2: The state government will set up two more marine police stations to bolster coastal security in the infiltration-prone Kendrapara district.

The proposed police stations will come up at Talchua and Tantiapala under Rajnagar tehsil. At present, the sole marine police station at Jamboo under Mahakalpada tehsil handles the coastal security.

While Talchua is located near the Bhitarkanika National Park, the proposed marine police station at Tantiapala will be strategically situated near the Integrated Test Range centre defence installation on Wheeler’s Island, said an official.

“The Union ministry of home affairs has sanctioned Rs 1.49 crore under the coastal security plan to commission the two marine police stations in Kendrapara. We have selected suitable sites for the project. Construction will begin shortly after the revenue administration hands over the land,” said Kendrapara superintendent of police Rabi Narayan Behera.

These police stations will have four sea-worthy vessels for sea patrolling. All-weather jetties will also be built for them. An officer of inspector rank will head the police station. Four subordinate police officers and 20 constables will assist the station head, he said. Personnel at these police stations will be provided with speedboats, life jackets, night-vision binoculars and other equipment to check piracy, sea-route smuggling and infiltration bids.

“The establishment of marine police stations at Talchua and Tantiapala will provide a security ring to the national park. Human interference in the protected forest areas and water bodies will be curtailed with assistance of marine police,” said divisional forest officer Kedar Kumar Swain.

Kendrapara district is home to highest number of Bangladeshi infiltrators. Nearly 1,700 infiltrators from the neighbouring country have been enumerated officially, but sources say the actual number is higher.