Port Blair, Sept 6: The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi inaugurated the Fish Landing Centre at Neil Island today. The Secretary (Fisheries), Shri Ramesh Verma, Chairperson, PBMC, Shri B. Eswar Rao, Zilla Parishad Member (Neil Island), Shri Dasrath Verma, Pradhan, Neil Island, Shri Ram Krishna Biswas, and the ADM, District Administration, Shri Mahesh Kumar Gupta were also present on this occasion besides a large number of fisher folks and local people. The Lt. Governor unveiled the plaque and inaugurated the Fish Landing Center, which has been built by the ALHW for an amount of Rs 320 Lakh. Port Blair, Sept 6: The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi inaugurated the Fish Landing Centre at Neil Island today. The Secretary (Fisheries), Shri Ramesh Verma, Chairperson, PBMC, Shri B. Eswar Rao, Zilla Parishad Member (Neil Island), Shri Dasrath Verma, Pradhan, Neil Island, Shri Ram Krishna Biswas, and the ADM, District Administration, Shri Mahesh Kumar Gupta were also present on this occasion besides a large number of fisher folks and local people. The Lt. Governor unveiled the plaque and inaugurated the Fish Landing Center, which has been built by the ALHW for an amount of Rs 320 Lakh.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Lt. Governor said the A&N Administration has a proposal for constructing 19 Fish Landing Centres in different locations of A&N Islands; of which 7 have already been completed including the Fish Landing centre at Neil Island. 10 Fish Landing centers are at various stages of constructions of which some are nearing completion and 1 Fish landing centre at Kamorta, which was under site dispute, has been cleared by Tribal Council of Kamorta. One Fish Landing Center at Little Andaman will be taken up once the Forest clearance is received.
Mentioning the availability of rich tuna resources in Andaman waters, the Lt. Governor informed that recently the Administration organized a stake holders’ meet at Cochin for promotion of Tuna fishing industry in the Islands which was chaired by Chief Secretary A&N Administration and attended by Secretary (Fisheries).
The Lt Governor said, fisheries is an important sector for generating employment opportunities in the Islands. The fishing potential of Andaman waters is huge which needs to be exploited, he said, emphasizing on the need for focusing on deep sea fishing. The A&N Administration is planning to impart skill development training to the fishers of A&N Islands by introducing foreign fishing vessels, wherein 80% of the crew members shall be the local fishermen of the Islands, said the Lt Governor.
Speaking on the tourism sector, the Lt. Governor informed that tourism has developed immensely in A&N Islands and there is increase in Tourist inflow every year and there is great scope for generating employment opportunities in tourism as well as in fishery sectors.
The Lt Governor further stated that in order to facilitate the Islanders, the Administration has introduced chartered flights at low fares. Speaking on the ban on tobacco and restriction on alcohol, the Lt. Governor said, there is a drastic decrease in domestic violence and cases of mouth cancer after the ban; and highlighted the various steps taken by the Administration to reduce alcoholism, such as, by increasing the number of dry days from 3 to 12, increasing the legal age of consumption of alcohol form 18 to 22 years, restricting the bar timing from 4pm to 10pm etc.
Speaking about the Health sector, the Lt Governor informed that Department of Cardiology and Neurology shall be introduced before March 2018 for which necessary instructions have been issued to the Health Department.
Talking about the various steps taken by A&N Administration for the development of Neil Island, the Lt. Governor informed the gathering that construction work of new Jetty has already started to facilitate berthing of bigger vessels. Tourism shall also be developed at Laxmanpur Beach for which Information Publicity and Tourism Department has initiated action for setting up of tented accommodations for Tourists. Apart from tents, 2 tree houses are also being built at Laxmanpur Beach, he added. Replying on the issues raised by the Pradhan, the Lt. Governor said the demands of the fishermen of Neil Island will be fulfilled.
Expressing his views on Neil Organic Mission, the Lt. Governor urged the farmers to completely avoid use of inorganic fertilizers and promote organic farming under the guidance of Agriculture Department, which will fetch more remuneration for their produce. He also suggested to use ‘Neil Organic’ logo on the agricultural products and make Neil Island as the first in the Islands to become fully Organic. The Lt Governor also distributed Fresh Water Fish Seed to 20 Fish Farmers of Neil Island which included Smti Aroti Das, Smti Fulkuamri Mandal, Smti Gita Rani Roy, Shri Profullo Mallick and Shri Tapan Bisawas among others.
In his welcome address, the Secretary (Fisheries), Shri Ramesh Verma stressed that fisherman community shall use the facility of Fish Landing Centre for their socio-economic development by contributing towards growth of fisheries sector in the Islands.
The Pradhan, Shri Ram Krishna Biswas put forth various demands viz an Ice Plant for the fishermen of Neil Island, supply of essential fishing materials on subsidy by the Department of Fisheries, providing house sites to fishermen, stationing of a rescue boat at Neil Island which can provide immediate assistance to fishermen in case of any distress. He also urged for development of road from Neil Jetty to Sitapur and speeding up the work of Petrol Bunk at Neil Island.
The function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Director of Fisheries, Shri SC Dey.
