The officials had brought this to the notice of the Prime Minister and the Petroleum Ministry before and immediately after 26/11. “We have written letters and even sent photographs to the PM and petroleum minister informing them about the activities of the fishermen, but no action has been taken so far. The security is inadequate,”said Rajan Pillai, general secretary ASTO-Central Working Committee of the Central government.

“When so much has been talked about coastal security, why can’t the government appoint some agency to look into the security of Bombay High, which is just 160 km away from the coast?” Pillai asked.

He added that there is absolutely no security in the area; and if there is a terror attack on this platform, national economy will collapse. The Bombay High rigs have a production capacity of approximately 2, 60,000 barrels everyday. It produces 14 per cent of India’s oil requirements and accounts for 38 per cent of all domestic production.

Fishermen, according to Pillai, sneak into the platforms to get a good catch. Bombay High produces 14 per cent of the country’s oil requirements and accounts for 38 per cent of all domestic production. At a time when the government is trying to plug loopholes in coastal security, the security of Bombay High is of prime concern.