Port Blair, May 11: The Lt Governor, reviewed the action taken on the instructions issued from time to time, achievements of the year 2013-14 and the initiatives proposed for the year 2014-15 by the Department of Environment & Forests at Raj Niwas recently in the presence of Chief Secretary and other senior officers of the Administration.
A detailed presentation was made by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. The Lt Governor impressed upon the officers of the Department to put in place a transfer policy for the field level staff and workers for their deployment in remote localities on the lines of Police Department, and provide a more responsive, effective and transparent administration for the welfare of the residents of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Expressing his concern on the upkeep and maintenance of the infrastructure created at various eco-tourism sites, he asked the Department to ensure that the facilities so created are properly maintained and ensure cleanliness at the sites by imposing fines for littering. The Department should consider charging a nominal fee for the use of such facilities at the beach. He also emphasized the need for exploring the feasibility of opening new eco-tourism destinations, considering the fact that a large number of tourists visit these Islands with the limited number of such sites available in and around Port Blair.
With regard to the much frequented tourist destination of Havelock, the Lt Governor asked the Chief Secretary to look into the issue of disposal of solid waste and prepare a comprehensive scheme for solid waste management, involving the Revenue, Forest, Police, Tourism Departments as well as the PRIs. He also desired that the Forest department shall provide the required technical knowhow and support to the Public Works Department in raising of avenue plantations of flowering and shade bearing, fast growing trees on either side of the road leading from the jetty up to the market and also from the market to Radhanagar Beach during the ensuing monsoon season.
Making available timber for local consumption should also be streamlined. As far as the crocodile menace is concerned a comprehensive programme should be drawn up including a census carried out.
