Port Blair, Aug 16: The 71st Independence Day was celebrated in a befitting manner in the Islands too together with the rest of the country. The main function was held in the historic Netaji Stadium here yesterday in which the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi hoisted the National Tri-colour as the chief guest. The Lt Governor inspected the Guard of Honour comprising of different contingents from Defence, A & N Police, India Reserved Battalion, Senior and Junior division NCC cadets and the Scouts and Guides of various schools. The Lt. Governor also gave away President’s Police Medal to the recipients besides Lt. Governor’s Commendation Certificates to 10 persons and six institutions for their dedicated services.Port Blair, Aug 16: The 71st Independence Day was celebrated in a befitting manner in the Islands too together with the rest of the country. The main function was held in the historic Netaji Stadium here yesterday in which the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi hoisted the National Tri-colour as the chief guest. The Lt Governor inspected the Guard of Honour comprising of different contingents from Defence, A & N Police, India Reserved Battalion, Senior and Junior division NCC cadets and the Scouts and Guides of various schools. The Lt. Governor also gave away President’s Police Medal to the recipients besides Lt. Governor’s Commendation Certificates to 10 persons and six institutions for their dedicated services.
Addressing the Islanders on the occasion, the Lt. Governor firstly remembered the freedom fighters and paid tributes to the Patriots and Martyrs, who have made supreme sacrifices for the freedom of the country. The Lt. Governor also saluted the National Tri-Colour, the pride of every Indian; and the brave soldiers of the country who guard our boundaries in extreme weather conditions. The Lt. Governor spoke about the history of the Viper Island and the Cellular Jail where the freedom fighters were incarcerated and tortured. He reminded the Islanders that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, for the very first time hoisted the National Tri- colour in the historic Gymkhana Stadium on December 30, 1943, declaring the Islands free from the foreign yoke. The Lt. Governor said, with the visionary guidance of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, our country and these Islands are making progress in all spheres and marching ahead. With the inspiration under ‘India First’ and ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas’, the Administration has reached out to the masses. With the co-operation of the Central Govt. the A&N Islands are also marching towards further development, said the Lt. Governor. All the Central Schemes have been enthusiastically implemented in these Islands during the past year and the A&N Administration has implemented various welfare schemes for the betterment of the Islanders, said the Lt. Governor.
Highlighting some of the major achievements of the A&N Administration, the Lt. Governor hailed the implementation of GST by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, which, he said, is the most significant landmark decision towards improving the country’s economy, since Independence. The Lt. Governor stated that with the successful implementation of GST, one tax for the entire country has been implemented. The GST, the Lt. Governor said, has led to transparency in the process of tax collection and has provided a corruption free environment to business establishments. The Officers of the newly created GST Department have contacted all the business establishments and trained them so that they can be inspired to join the system. As many as 3393 business units have registered themselves under GST with the coordinated efforts of the GST Department, District Administration and Business Establishments, said the Lt. Governor.
Turning to the Health sector, the Lt. Governor stated that good result have been witnessed following the ban on consumption, production, sale and stocking of zarda and gutkha in the Islands, since October 2, 2016. He further mentioned that considering the ill effects of alcoholism on the Islands’ society, a Prohibition Department has also come into effect since October 2, 2016, and to bring down the consumption of alcohol in the Islands, a New Excise Rule has been implemented w.e.f. January 2017. The Prohibition Department is organizing various awareness programmes and de-addiction camps throughout the Islands, said the Lt. Governor expressing his satisfaction that the sale of alcohol has decreased by 26.6 % between January and July 2017, as compared to the last year. This will lead to improvement of the health of the Islanders and prosperity of the Islands.
The Lt. Governor also spoke about the various health facilities being included in the Islands. The A&N Administration will soon procure the necessary machines for establishing the Cath Lab in the GB Pant Hospital here. The facility of spinal surgery has been made available in G.B Pant Hospital. Two more Dialysis Units have also been added in G.B Pant Hospital. The Primary Health Centre of Katchal Island has started functioning from its new building, informed the Lt. Governor.
Turning to the Tourism sector, the Lt. Governor mentioned that tourism plays a very important role in the economy of the Islands. With a view to promote eco-tourism in the Islands, tented accommodations are being arranged in different tourist spots of the Islands, said the Lt. Governor adding that the Administration is also focusing on encouraging tourism in North & Middle Andamans. The work for establishing floating HDPE Jetty in the Ross & Smith and Avis Islands has already commenced. The re-development work of Viper Island has also commenced, he said.
About the connectivity issue, the Lt. Governor informed that the tender for laying of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) has been issued on July 7, 2017 and the work is likely to begin soon. The Rs. 1102.38 crore project will bring a sea change in the Information & Technology sector in the Islands, said the Lt. Governor mentioning that this will lead to implementation of the e-governance and digital India projects of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
Referring to the Solar Power situation in the Islands, the Lt. Governor stated that with a view to encourage this, rooftop Solar Power Plants have been put in place on the rooftops of 18 Government buildings while the project for installation of rooftop solar power plant in 1000 houses has also been sanctioned. Under this, 70% subsidy is being provided and the Central Government has released an amount of Rs. 2.4 crores towards this project. This project will begin within this month and will lead to generation of 2 MW additional solar power. About the closure of Surya Chakra Power Plant and the power cuts in South Andaman, the Lt. Governor assured the Islanders that the Administration is making all efforts to tide over the electricity issues.
About the Shipping sector, the Lt. Governor said the construction works of new ships for A&N Islands are underway under the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Central Government. Out of the 10 small harbor crafts of 150-passenger capacity, 4 are ready and will reach here as soon as the weather is suitable. An additional Jetty is being constructed in Neil Island while the present jetty is being extended. The work for extending the berthing jetty in Hope Town also commenced in April 2017. The ALHW is carrying out the work of increasing the Dry Dock of Port Blair by 90 meters. This project is expected to be completed by December 27, 2017, which will provide better facilities of repairing of ships besides providing more opportunities of employment and catering to the demands of the tourists.
Turning to the Fisheries sector, the Lt Governor said the Administration has plans to construct 14 Fish Landing Centres (FLCs) in different parts of these Islands. Construction of 6 FLCs have been completed, 6 FLCs are under construction while the work for remaining 2 FLCs will be taken up soon, the Lt Governor added. Construction of these FLCs will further accelerate fisheries activities in these Islands.
In the road sector, the Lt Governor said that the construction and widening of 83 kilometer of National Highway in these Islands have begun by the Central Govt. at a cost of Rs 383 crores. The Ministry for Road and Transport has started the construction of two-lane Bridge at Humphrey strait at a cost Rs 202.90 crores while the Ministry has called tender for another bridge at Middle Strait which will cost Rs 205 crores. It is expected that both the bridges will be ready by 2020, the Lt Governor added.
The Administration has made a discernible progress in the education front. The overall percentage of the AISSCE-2017 in Isles stood at 78.58 percent witnessing an increase of 6.98 percent compared to last year. Similarly, the overall percentage of class 10th exam stood at 99.20 percent. It’s a matter of pride for all us that 77 schools secured 100 percent results in the class 10th exam-2017 while 13 students of Govt Schools achieved 10 point CGPA in this exam, the Lt Governor added.
The Lt Governor said that sports are being given adequate attention by the Administration. To upgrade sports facilities further in these Islands especially in remote areas, an Indoor Multipurpose Sports hall built at cost of Rs 4.61 crores was inaugurated at Kanyapuram. In the current financial year 2017-18, the Department of Youth and Sports will construct a Mini Stadium at the Laltha Singh Ground at Haddo.
Regarding the farming sector of the Isles, the Lt Governor said the Hon’ble Prime Minister has launched many schemes to double the income of farmers by 2022 under which crop harvesting, storage, transportation, processing and marketing are being given special attention. To save the farmers from the middlemen, a policy is being framed based upon the Model Act prepared by the Central Govt. For the overall development of the farmers, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry is also incorporated in this policy, he added.
The Lt. Governor also mentioned that under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, LPG is given free of cost to the women head of a family of BPL category. So far 1328 such beneficiaries have been provided free LPG connections.
The Lt. Governor expressed happiness that the PBMC has started Unit Area Method for collecting property tax which has brought transparency in the system. Under the new system of tax collection, the House Tax of many people has come down.
The Lt Governor further stated that the Swacchh Bharat Abhiyan started by our Prime Minister has taken well by the Islanders here. Cleanliness is better maintained in A&N Islands when compared to other parts of the mainland and efforts are on to make cleanliness a continuous process. By October 2, 2017, Port Blair will be declared ‘Open Defecation Free’ Islands and by March 2018, the entire A&N Islands will be free from open defecation.
About the Civil Aviation sector, the Lt. Governor stated that 14 scheduled flights are being operated daily even in the current lean season. “It is expected that 22 flights will be operated daily in the month of October”, he said adding that the Central Govt’s Regional Connectivity Scheme “Ude Desh Ka Aam Admi” will be started in these Islands too for which a MoU has been signed between Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India. Under this Scheme, Flights will be operated from Port Blair to Car Nicobar, Campbell Bay and Shibpur (Diglipur).
The Lt. Governor also thanked the Andaman and Nicobar Command for their contribution, print & electronic media for highlighting the developmental activities of the Islands, and bringing to the fore problems of the people. He also thanked the Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray for his support and also lauded the efforts of the Chief Secretary, under whose leadership the A&N Administration has been performing as a committed team while under the leadership of DGP, the A&N Police has been providing security to the far flung Islands. He also thanked the Addhyakshs of PBMC and Zilla Parishads, PRI members, Tribal Council. The Lt. Governor further appealed all the officers of the Administration to work dedicatedly for the betterment of the Islands.
Earlier, the Lt. Governor visited the National Memorial Cellular Jail and laid a wreath at the Martyr’s Column to pay homage to the Martyrs of the freedom movement. Among others, the main function of the Independence Day celebrations at Netaji Stadium was attended by the First Lady of these Islands, Smt. Prem Mukhi, Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray & Smt. Rupa Ray, Padmashree, Shri Naresh Chandra Lal, Chief Secretary, Shri Anindo Majumdar, Chairperson PBMC, Shri Eswar Rao, Senior Officers from the Defence and Civil Administration, Councilors of PBMC, PRI members, leaders of the Political Parties, prominent citizens and general public.
A 19 member team of ex- Andaman Political Prisoners Fraternity Circle including 9 widows of freedom fighters also attended the main function of the Independence Day at the Netaji Stadium. An IRBn contingent from Puducherry for the first time participated in the Independence Day parade at Netaji Stadium. The defence as well as DSS ships anchored near Ross Island were illuminated at evening hours which added color to the Independence Day celebrations.
