New Delhi: Indigenisation plan for the Indian Navy under Make in India programme will enable domestic development of equipment and systems over the next 15 years, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Chennai.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Varaha, he said an Indian Naval Indigenisation Plan 2015-2030, as a guideline document, has been formulated as part of the Make in India programme.

A conscious decision was taken to encourage shipyards, public and private, to start warship construction and the response had been encouraging, the Minister said.

The indigenous warships construction has come a long way since the commissioning of the INS Nilgiri in 1972, he said.

Singh said clean oceans were important for the country’s economic prosperity and sustainability.

He said the Indian Coast Guard has launched “Swachh Sagar Abhiyan” in lines with “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” which was a commendable step.

Singh said the Varaha ship had the capability to carry pollution response equipment.

Urging the industry to invest in the development of naval equipment, Singh said not many countries in the world could make a wide variety of warships ranging from fast attack craft to aircraft carrier.

The Varaha is fourth in the series of the seven off-shore patrol vessels (OPV) and will be based at New Mangalore, Karnataka.

The 98-metre OPV was designed and built by Larsen & Toubro Ltd. It is equipped to carry one twin-engine helicopter and four high-speed boats including two rigid hull inflatable boats.

The ship is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment for oil spill and response at sea.

The Indian Coast Guard has a fleet of 142 ships and boats and 62 aircraft.

Further 65 ships were at various stages of construction at different shipyards in India and 16 advanced light helicopters were under production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru, a statement said.