Port Blair, May 15: The cold storage facility for the fishermen will be provided at Anarkali at Port Blair by May or June next year. In a written reply to the unstarred question raised by the Islands M P, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr. Mullapally Ramachandran informed today in Loksabha that a joint inspection along with the MP was already conducted for selection of site for installation of 30 MT pre-fabricated Cold storage and the site at Anarkali, Port Blair was finally selected. He further revealed that the installation is likely to be completed by May or June next year. He also intimated that the cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables have been set up in some areas in the islands.
Regarding construction of Sea wall in fishermen settlement, the Minister stated that the construction of Sea wall in fishermen area at Oral Katcha has been included in the Annual plan.
In response to query on procurement of rice at MSP from farmers of North Andaman, the Minister stated that the UT administration has procured a total of 32.9 MT of rice at Minimum Support Price (MSP) from the farmers of North Andaman and an amount of 5.51 lakh rupees has been paid to the farmers through their bank accounts.
Replying to the MP regarding allotment of stone quarries in Baratang, the Home Minister of State informed that no application for allotment of stone quarries to private parties in Baratang island is pending at present. He further stated that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Minor Mineral rules, 2007 have not yet been finalized and proposals for allotment of quarries can be considered only after finalization of the rules.
He further informed that the letters written by the MP on these issues have already been responded by the Islands Administration on different occasions.(PIB)
