Port Blair, Jan 11: Vide an unstarred Parliament Question No 2579 dated 9/12/2011 Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament raised in Parliament the matter regarding implementation of Govt Notification dated 30/10/2007 regarding Buffer Zone Shri Ray wanted to know whether the Supreme Court order dated 1/8/2011 is implemented in its letter and spirit, and the action taken by the Director (TW) for implementation of the Court Order. He also wanted to know as to whether commercial, tourism activities if any took place in the Buffer Zone after the Court Order dated 1/8/2011 amounts to contempt of Court.
In reply Shri Mehadeo Singh Khandela. State Minister of Tribal Affairs informed the MP that tourism related establishment activities in the Buffer Zone already closed by A & N Administration and the matter already reported to Supreme Court on 13/12/2010. However, livelihood activities like ration shops, tea stalls, grocery, cloth shop etc of the villagers living in Buffer Zone area are continuing.
According to A & N Administration, there is no contempt of Court. To implement the Court Order, the A & N Administration has reduced number of convoys In ATR from Jirkatang to Middle Straight from 8 to 4 and submitted a proposal for amendment to PAT Regulation 1956 to MHA.
