Port Blair, Jan 05: A delegation of the Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) headed by Mr. G. Bhasker, President met the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands in Raj Niwas on 2nd January, 2014 and discussed various important issues of the Chamber which were generally concerning to the traders and the people of these islands.
The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration and the Secretary to the Lt. Governor were also present in the meeting. The points mainly discussed were about making amendment to certain clauses of the Master Plan prepared for South Andaman District, speedy conversion of land for commercial use, speeding up of economic development of the Islands, civil aviation matters such as early completion of new air terminal, commencing of international flight services from Port Blair International Airport to neighbouring countries, reduction of air fare by the Airline Companies, early commencing of charter flights between Port Blair and mainland by the A&N Administration, early completion of laying of Under Sea Optical Fiber Cable, providing industrial subsidy to small and medium scale industries, providing loans by the banks at Port Blair to set up industrial projects without any cumbersome procedure, providing one time relaxation to those buildings which had already made deviations beyond the approved plan by relaxing the norms of the PBMC Building Bye Laws, shifting of the wholesale market from Aberdeen Bazar to some other suitable area to ease congestion, matters concerning to A&N Forest and Plantation Development Corporation and holding of National Seminar on the topic “Vision 2020” for these islands covering important sectors of development.
The delegation highlighted before the Lt. Governor that there has been some shortcoming in the Master Plan prepared for the South Andaman District and stressed the need to bring certain amendment in it for better utilization of the farmers land available. Regarding the conversion of the land for commercial use, the delegation pointed out that the procedure for conversion of land adopted by the revenue authority is very cumbersome and most of the conversion requests made by members of the chamber and also the residents are delayed and no conversion is made but at the same time conversion is made on some selective cases which is unfair. They requested the Lt. Governor to give necessary direction to the authority concerned to speed up the diversion of land so that economic development can take place. The delegation pointed out the Lt. Governor that the economic development in the islands has been negative for the last three years. In this, a major contributing factor is the reluctance of the Banks to lend loan to developing projects which is evident from the C:D ratio from the islands which is 30 where as the norms prescribed by RBI is 70. Local entrepreneurs, therefore are facing acute problem to set up their industrial projects for want of adequate funds and therefore, requested to give necessary direction to the financial institutions in the islands to extend loans to entrepreneurs without any cumbersome procedure and problem.
The delegation also stressed the need for reduction of air fare between Port Blair and mainland sector by the airline companies which is very high during this tourist season and early introduction of international flight services from Port Blair International Airport to neighbouring countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Phuket, Bangkok and the like so as to boost the tourist arrivals at Port Blair apart from early completion of the new air terminal building. They further pointed out that the proposal for chartering of flight by the Administration to make services between Port Blair and mainland at a cheaper rates has been unduly delayed and as a result, the people of the islands and the government servants who would like to go to mainland and return are facing great difficulty and therefore requested the LG to speed up the matter so that at least the charter flight services would be a great relief to the local people especially when the airlines companies exorbitantly charging air fare from them.
As regards laying of Under Sea Optical Fiber Cable connecting five islands of this Union Territory, the delegation pointed out the LG that this proposal is unduly delayed. The entire business community and the people are very much concerned about the poor mobile signal and also poor internet link and stressed the need for early completion of the project.
Regarding shifting of the whole sale market, the delegation impressed upon the LG that traffic congestion is making it very difficult to unload and load material in Aberdeen Bazar and other areas of Port Blair. The delegation, therefore, focused before the LG that a special whole sale market be created at a suitable place to be identified by the Administration in association with the ACCI beyond Port Blair city.
The delegation further pointed out the LG that the A&N Forest and Plantation Development Corporation is already a sick Department and the employees working there are not getting their salaries in right time. They requested the LG to revive the Department as early as possible and bring it in its earlier position.
Earlier, Mr. G. Bhasker, President, ACCI and Mr. Mohd. Jadwet, Past President informed the Lt. Governor that the Chamber proposes to hold a National Seminar on the topic “Vision 2020” for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands covering the subjects tourism, fisheries, infrastructure, information technology, agriculture, marine and allied services in the first week of February 2014 in association with the FICCI, New Delhi for which support and cooperation of the Administration was sought.
The LG had a patient hearing and was very happy assuring the delegation that he would take all necessary steps to redress the demands placed before him in the meeting as early as possible and also assured all support to hold the national level seminar in the islands.
