Mangalore : Two Air Cushion Vehicles, popularly known as Hovercrafts that had landed at Panambur a month ago, were commissioned at Indian Coast Guard – Karnataka at its headquarters in Panambur here on Monday Nov 10.

Speaking after Commissioning the Hovercrafts, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala said that the Central government was concerned about the safety of the country, due to which Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parikkar was asked to resign from his post and given the defence portfolio in the Centre. “He is a dedicated and patriotic man and I am confident of his abilities,” the Governor said.

While showering praise on the Indian military and coast guards, he said it was because of these men and women that people in the nation are living peacefully.

“We should thank and salute them just like the way we worship the God.”

He appreciated the efforts taken to induct hovercrafts to the Indian Coast Guard and said the hovercraft will help to trace terrorists entering the country through water. “Hovercraft will play two roles. It will act as a saviour to fishermen and destroyer of terrorist forces. In a war, it is not the soldiers who fight, but the equipment and infrastructure of two nations,” the Governor noted.

Later speaking to reporters on the increased number of sexual assault cases and law and order situation in the State, he said that he would talk to the concerned ministers and also with the chief minister if the need arises.

“I have been advising the government on various issues and will continue to do so,” he said.

With Hovercraft H-196 Commandant Bulvinder Singh and H-198 Commandant Amitabh Banerjee reading out the commissioning in the presence of the Governor, the Hovercrafts are officially ready to sail. The UK made Hovercrafts with modern equipment and trained personnel on board will skim through Arabian sea, to monitor the Karnataka coast.

Tony Roxburgh representing Griffon Hoverworks Ltd based in UK said that over 100 Hovercrafts manufactured by the company are sailing in the sea in various parts of the world. H-196 and H-198 are exclusively built for Indian sea and these are the last of the 12 series of Hovercrafts handed over to India.

Indian Coast Guard, Inspector General (Western Region) S P S Basra said the ICG will induct new platforms and infrastructure to support it in future. Such inductions will help to strengthen the capability of ICG to respond to challenges.