Kozhikode: The Indian Navy was fully capable of protecting the country's coastal areas and always stood prepared to effectively counter terrorist activities along the coast, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Arun Prakash, said today (Oct 16, 2004).

"The Navy and coastguard personnel are capable and fully prepared to tackle terrorist elements along the coast," he told reporters after visiting the 'Kunhali Marakkar memorial' near Payyoli in the district.

Some Hindu organisations had alleged soon after the violence at Marad beach near Kozhikode last year in which nine persons were killed, that certain terrorist groups were operating along the Western coast.

On the prestigious Rs 5000 crore Naval academy, coming up at Ezhimala in Kannur, he said the works, though hampered at times owing to changing climatic conditions, were in progress and that the project would be commissioned soon.

He declined to comment when asked about the reported Opposition expressed by the Left parties to the joint naval exercises involving the US.

Later, Admiral Prakash inaugurated the Chair for Maritime Studies set up at the Calicut University to promote research of naval traditions of South India. The Chair has been set up under the aegis of the Naval wing of the Union Ministry of Defence with the principle objective of identifying the historical reasons for the erosion of Indian maritime traditions.