Port Blair, Aug 5: The Member of Parliament, Mr Bishnu Pada Ray participated in the discussion on ‘Discussion & Voting on supplementary demands for grants in respect of the Budget 2016-17’, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. In his address, Mr Ray raised the issue of these islands and requested the Finance Minister to allocate funds for the proposed projects. He said that the Parliamentary standing committee on home affairs has already submitted its report, recommending the allocation of funds, in May this year. Drawing the attention of the Finance Minister Mr Arun Jaitely, he informed the house that the concerned ministries have already sanctioned the projects like opening of ‘Sainik’ school, Navoday Vidyalaya and Polytechnic at Diglipur. Mr Ray demanded funds for these projects.
He said that the 4th Finance commission for UTs also recommended for funds for the Islands. Shri Ray said that the Islands’ have huge potential for tourism and if given proper attention it can be developed like any Island Nation. Informing about the present financial condition of the Port Blair Municipal Council he said it needs fund to execute the works. Talking about the pathetic conditions of the Ex-Mazdoors of the Andaman Timber Industries, he said that the Supreme Court has issued directions to grant compensation to the Mazdoors. He raised the issue of the DRMs of APWD also and requested for justice to them. Talking about the Optical Fiber Cable Project, Shri Ray requested Shri Jaitley to allocate fund for it.
The MP congratulated Mr Jaitley for achieving the goal of taking the economic growth of the country to greater heights. He said that it was the efforts the Govt. and vision of Mr Jaitley that the country has earned the goodwill of becoming the fastest growing economy in the world.
