Sarthak Kanjilal & Roni Antony
Port Blair, Oct 21: Mr Someshwara Rao, Junior Vice Chairperson, Port Blair Municipal Council has requested the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi to lease out government lands in the UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands that can enable Island youth to start up new business, those are linked to the field of agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries.
In a letter addressed to the PM, Mr Someshwara Rao stated that the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are bestowed with evergreen forest and emerald blue sea, with crystal clean beaches.
Ecologically, the islands have great potential of providing employment opportunities by adopting modern technologies in the field of agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries but due to lack of proper planning and vision for harnessing the natural resources in the right perspective islands are behind many other states and union territory of the country in the agriculture and allied sector, Mr Someshwara Rao mentioned in his letter.
He further stated in his letter that like other states in the mainland the unemployed youths of these islands are also looking for employment in the government sector which he believes is not a solution for the problem.
Mr Someshwara Rao further also stated that to develop and promote aquaculture activities, the Andaman & Nicobar Administration is taking efforts to implement various projects under the blue revolution scheme.
The Administration has invited bids for promoting open sea cage culture in the islands by extending subsidy for the beneficiaries. The government has also notified leasing rate of Rs 1 per square meters per month but the results are not fruitful, Mr Someshwara Rao added.
“Huge area of forest and government land is lying unutilized in the islands for various reasons. If the same policy of leasing of government land is implemented in the islands many local youths would be benefitted through agro forestry, agro industry, agro biological, organic vegetables etc.,” Mr Someshwara mentioned in his letter.
