Intelligence agencies have reported sightings of large speed boats nudging the coast in the last three weeks. Some of the vessels were spotted as close as Dahanu in Thane district, intelligence sources say. Members of the dal have therefore been asked to patrol the waters round the clock and report any suspicious goungs-on along the 750-km-long coastline, comprising Thane, Mumbai, Raigad and Sindhudurg districts.

Intelligence sources told Express Newsline that Pakistani speed boats had tried to sneak into Indian waters off the Kutch, Miyani, Jawar, Porbunder and Jamnagar areas in Gujarat, butthe attemps were thwarted by Indian agencies.

Superintendant of Police (Thane Rural) Param Bir Singh says dal members have been told to coordinate with their respective local police stations, which in turn will report to their superiors.

The Sagar Suraksha Dal has been set up along the lines of `Operation Swan', which was formed in the aftermath of the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai in March 1993. More than 50 fishing trawlers were hired to patrol coastal areas from Gujarat to Goa and coordinate with multiple agencies like the police, revenue intelligence, Navy and Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard refused to comment on the current arrangements, saying this could jeopardise security. The alert is also significant also because some of the country's main oil installations at Bombay High fall within the vulnerable zone. This includes oilfields measuring about 100 sq km which are situated about 70 nautical miles off the Mumbai coast.

Meanwhile, reports from Thane say that District Collector Mukesh Khullar hasordered that all goods offloaded at the 12 ports along the district's 112-km-long coastline be examined and detailed records maintained. This was discussed at a meeting with the Customs, Fisheries and Revenue departments, the Indian Navy and Police. Details regarding contents of all craft entering the ports, like their origin and destination, will be monitored.

The sensitive ports have been identified as: Jhai, Dahanu, Satpati, Vadrai, Arnala, Vasai. These are the busiest. Fishing ports like Jhai, Aagar, Dahanu, Dhakti Dahanu, Gungwada, Waror, Chinchani, Danda, Tarapore, Kambode, Narpapd Dhivli, Uchleli, Pofran Dandi, Navapore, Murbe (North), Murbe (West), Satpati (North), Satpati (Central) Satpati (South), Wadrai, Tembhi, Kelwa, Usarni, Edwan-Kore, Daatiware, Kelwe-Mahim, Uttan (North), Uttan (South), Uttan-Bhatya will also be kept under survelliance. Thane district has 54 villages along its coast, where the Coast Guard also has outposts.