Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, June 25: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray today demanded separate Sub Plan for Tribal population of remote Nicobar District.
Addressing media persons during an interactive session to deliberate on Planned Development perspective of A&N Islands at MP Bhawan today, the Member of Parliament said that in the financial year 2014-15, Andaman and Nicobar Islands got only Rs. 1950 crore under planned fund from central government.
“As per three District Planning Committees of three Districts of A & N Islands the requirement of funds for various project is nearly Rs. 20,000 crores but we got only 1950 crores out of which 1076 crores will be used for committed liabilities like salaries etc,” the MP said.
He added that out rest Rs. 874 crores, Rs. 212 crores are earmarked for various projects in Nicobar District while only Rs. 664 crores is available for all developmental works in rest Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
“The Nicobari population is just 6 percent of total population of Andaman and Nicobar Islands but nearly 10 percent of planned fund is earmarked for the tribal population, who do not even know where it is used. I demand a separate sub-plan for next years for Tribal Population of Nicobar District let tribal population of Nicobar decide what they want and utilize funds accordingly,” the MP added.
He said that there are many instances where funds were wasted for no reasons in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
“The priorities in these Islands are roads, culverts and bridges in remote villages, clean water and good health services. If some work is not in priority list please do not take up the work,” he said.
The MP also demanded a Post Graduation College for Andaman and Nicobar Islands under PPP mode.
During the interactive session the Member of Parliament demanded proper irrigation scheme for all villages and said that farmers of Havelock and Hut Bay are suffering heavy loss due to some unknown plant disease, which has attacked their arecanut plantation.
He said that is has also demanded Air Conditioning of all wards of G B Pant Hospital in Andamans.
Regarding fund utilization by PRI, the MP said that in three tier system Panchayat Gets 60 percent of fund while Panchayat Samity and Zilla Parishad gets 15 percent each, which leaves no money with PRI members to carryout any major works like road construction. He urged the Administration to sit with all PRI members and sort out some plan so that roads are constructed with the funds and results are visible infront of public.
