Visakhapatnam, Oct 1: Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma, today said that more Mig-29K class air fighter air-craft and helicopters would be inducted into the Indian Navy in the next two years.
Talking to media after commissioning of INS Shakti, a fleet tanker, at the Naval Dockyard here today, he said 29 MIG-29K aircraft and sixteen helicopters would be acquired within two years.
Earlier, 16 aircraft of this class, (12 fighter and 4 trainee aircraft) had been acquired. The Navy Chief also said that aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya would be delivered to the Indian Navy as per the schedule, and Italy was extending cooperation for another aircraft carrier, being built by the Cochin shipyard.
To a question, he said the naval surveillance along the coast had been strengthened in association with the Coast Guard and Marine Police. Fishermen too were being roped in, he said.
Navy and Coast Guard were creating awareness among the fishermen community for this purpose, he said.
Regarding rehabilitation package for those who had lost lands for the alternative naval base at Rambilli Mandal in the district, Verma said the Centre and the Navy had accepted the rehabilitation package submitted by the district administration and the state government, and Centre had released the funds. PTI
