By Our Correspondent in Bhubaneswar, February 2, 2015  :

The Odisha government on Monday urged the union government to sanction a special unit of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) for coastal security in the state.

State chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati, while interacting with union cabinet secretary Ajit Seth through teleconferencing, made the request saying a special IRB unit was needed to strengthen the long coast line of Odisha.

Odisha has got a 480-km long coastline.

“During the discussion, we requested the Central government to sanction a special IRB unit to guard the state’s long coastline. We also requested early allocation of patrol boats for the 13 marine police stations which have been opened in the state in the second phase,” additional director general (ADG, law and order) Vinanyanand Jha told media persons after the meeting.

Mr Jha also said the Centre had been requested to enhance the grant for the construction of jetties.

“Rs 50 lakh has been sanctioned for every jetty whereas the construction of an average jetty involves an expenditure of Rs 3-4 crore. That is why we have asked for a hike in the sanction,” he explained.

Senior officials of the state home department and top police personnel were present during the teleconference.