WE WANT ECO - TOURISM

Lt Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands,

Professor RAM KAPSE, in conversation with Darpan.  

Nature has distanced Andaman and Nicobar Islands from mainland India. What are your plans to bridge this yawning gap? Also tell us about the improvements in inter-island transport.

Many opt for a cruise to enter the island but tickets are not sold in advance. Soon this problem will be solved as we are computerising the ticketing system. It will then be easier for the tourists to buy tickets in advance from Chennai or Kolkata. New ships are being built to facilitate inter-island communication. A passenger vessel called MV Kalighat will be delivered in August. I have requested T R Baalu, Minister for Shipping, to take up this issue with officials of shipyards and accelerate the pace of construction. We have also decided on standardising ships. Those shuttling between mainland and Port Blair will be designed to carry 1,000 passengers. The inter- island ferries will carry 500 passengers. A proposal for plying a chartered ship between the Southern Islands is being dealt with by the Shipping Ministry. Every waterway, including creeks, will be utilised to develop inter-island communication. We already have the Pawan Hans helicopter service connecting different islands. Besides chartered flights, operated by a private agency from Thailand to Port Blair, are scheduled to start from January 2005.

How do you propose to develop the administrative infrastructure of the Islands? For the average Indian tourist, the air fare is quite prohibitive. Is there a move to slash rates and upgrade facilities?

The runway has already been extended and can handle Airbus A-320 aircraft. In addition, other facilities have to be improved to enable international flights to stop over at Port Blair. We are also in touch with the Civil Aviation Minister for apex fare facility between Port Blair-Kolkata-Delhi. The fares between two metros are fixed. In case one travels to a non-metro, one has to pay a nominal cost of Rs 1,000. We want the same for Port Blair. I will be speaking to the Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Tourism Minister Renuka Chowdhary regarding this matter.

There is a view that influx of tourists is telling upon the environmental health of the Islands. How are you taking care of that?

I will invite environmentalists and NGOs to the islands to experience things for themselves. This is the best place for eco-tourism and we will protect the environment at any cost. We have banned the use of plastics. We are educating people to use eco-friendly, bio-degradable materials.

What about tourism facilities like ATM centres?

Several nationalised banks have opened their branches. ATM facilities are available from banks like ICICI, Canara Bank, UTI and SBI. Bank of Baroda has opened a branch and will shortly start ATM facilities. Cyber cafes will also come up.