Kakinada: Poor infrastructure facilities at marine police stations have weakened the marine policing in East Godavari district. There are three marine police stations at Kakinada, Vodalarevu and Antarvedi in the district. But, the government failed to create infrastructure facilities like jetties for landing boats, proper buildings and others.

A marine police station building has been constructed at Kakinada and allotted three high speed boats to the station two years ago. But, one boat is not working since then due to repairs. Repaired were carried out on two other boats and are kept in running condition.

At present the marine police are utilising a private jetty of the port at Kakinada. Kakinada marine police should inspect the coast up to Addaripet in Thondangi mandal and Vodalarevu marine police have to inspect from Vodalarevu to Kakinada Hope Island area and Antarvedi police will have to inspect up to Machilipatnam coast.

At Vodalarevu and Antarvedi, there are no buildings. The police stations are being run in rented buildings. Recently the government sanctioned 70 cents land each for the construction of police stations. The tenders are in progress.

The Vodalarevu marine police officials are making use of vessels belong to Reliance Industries during inspection on sea waters.

According to marine police officials, the Union government has already sanctioned furniture, arms and others to the marine police. But, it will be kept in headquarters at Hyderabad due to poor facilities in the marine police stations.

After construction of buildings for the stations, the infrastructure facilities would also be created. The police officials hope that it would be strengthened within three or four months.

BJP leader Y. Malakondaiah said that the Kakinada coast is very important to strengthen the security as oil and gas explorations are going on in Krishna-Godavari basin and there were many valuable assets of ONGC, Reliance, GSPC and others.