In Sunday Times Feb 13, there was a brief report titled "Coast Guard plans to expand its air fleet" by inducting medium range maritime surveillance aircraft to augment its short range Dorniers. It is mentioned that these Dorniers are deployed at "Daman Chennai, Kochi and Kolkata". There is no mention whatsoever of Dabolim either in the existing or new scheme of things. Nor is there any mention of Seabird/Karwar in this connection.
However, the report adds that "the army, navy, air force and coast guard are seeking to hike the defence outlay by as much as 40% (forty percent) in the forthcoming budget." Let us fervently hope that Churchill Alemao is actively following up with the Defence Minister about the proposed shift of the military from Dabolim.
