By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 24, 2016 : Odisha on Thursday sought 43,000 more biometric cards and hi-tech power boats from the centre hi-tech power boats to guard the coastal belts in the state.

“Ninety per cent fishermen have been supplied with biometric cards. We have asked for another 43,000 biometric card to cover total 100 per cent fishermen in Odisha. We have also received the card readers,” principal secretary home Asit Tripathy, told newsmen after his meeting with the union cabinet secretary P K Sinha through video conferencing over the issue of coastal security.

Tripathy said, while 18 marine police stations are functioning on the state’s coast, 13 have been newly added.

He said the state government has sought advanced motorboats from the Centre for efficient functioning of these police stations.

“We have 18 marine police stations. The power boats we had received from the Centre in the first phase are not suitable for the shallow creeks. Taking note of this, we requested the Union Cabinet secretary to provide hi-tech power boats for the 13 new marine police stations which can easily move through the shallow creeks and mangrove forest areas having low water level,” he added.

The Principal Secretary said other national issues were also discussed which were reviewed by the Cabinet Secretary.

The meeting was also attended by DGP K B Singh and senior officials of various departments.