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A Space Application Cell has been set up by the Department of Environment and Forests, A&N Administration at Van Sadan, Haddo. The Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Prof Ram Kapse will inaugurate the Cell at a function on 13^th May, 2005 at 1100 hrs.

Pressure Timber Treatment Plant commissioned at Government Saw Mill, Chatham

Pressure Timber Treatment Plant having treatment capacity of 7 Cu.M of sawn timber per shift per day has been commissioned at the Government Saw Mill, Chatham w.e.f. 06.05.2005.

The treatment plant has been installed in compliance of Para 15 of Shekhar Singh Commission’s Report which was accepted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide its order dated 07.05.2002 requiring treatment of all construction timber in order to extend its durability and life.

With the installation of this additional plant, the capacity of treatment of sawn timber of the mill at Chatham has now gone upto 9 Cu.M per shift of eight hours per day which is expected to meet the requirement of treated sawn timber of South Andaman and Southern groups of islands. Besides, installation of another plant of the same capacity is also underway at Betapur Saw Mill, Betapur for meeting the requirement of treated sawn timber for consumers of North and Middle Andaman.

A team consisting of top travel agents of the country would be arriving at the Islands on 13^th May 2005 for a fam tour. The team would be led by Shri Amitabh Kant, Joint Secretary (Tourism) and will also consist of Smt. Leena Nandan, Director (Planning), Ministry of Tourism. Heads of top travel companies like SITA India, India Vision Tours, Midtown Travels, Travel Inn, Planet India Travel would be part of the fam tour team along with journalists from ETV, Hindustan Samachar and other media organisations.

The team would be visiting different tourist destinations of the Islands including Cellular Jail, Carbyn’s Cove beach, Havelock Island, Mount Harriet, Ross Island, North Bay etc. They will also be interacting with the local travel agents, tour operators and hotel owners.

The fam tour is part of the revival efforts by the Ministry of Tourism and the A & N Administration and is among a series of promotional strategies in the pipeline.

Acting on specific information, the joint combing operation launched by the forest officials from the Mayabunder and Diglipur Forest Divisions alongwith the police led to apprehension of 10 Burmese poachers close to the Muhwa Tirkey Island, in the Western Coastal waters close to the Middle and North Andamans.

The joint team began the operations in the early hours of 9^th May, 2005. The dinghy and other evidences indicating the presence of the poachers were detected on 9^th May, 2005 and launched the combing operation for the apprehension of the poachers. The operation led to the detection and seizure of two engine dinghies and implements belonging to the poachers.

The Department of Fisheries, Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the plan scheme “Human Resource Development Extension and Welfare of Fishermen Families” proposes to implement the following programmes during the financial year 2005-06. The programme is aimed at providing financial assistance to the marine fishermen of the Islands having semi-permanent dwelling units, Old age pension for helpless aged marine fishermen and to provide compensation for loss of fishing crafts and gears due to any accident / natural calamity while at sea. The details of programmes are as follows: -

S. No.	Name of the Programme	Approved pattern of assistance	Eligibility criteria
1.	Financial assistance for renovation of house/ replacement of roof/ thatching of roof.	a) Grant of Rs. 10,000/- per beneficiary for renovation of kucha/ semi-pucca house. b) Grant of Rs. 5,000/- per beneficiary for replacement of roof/sheeting material with aluminium/ asbestos/ coal-tar sheet.	a) Bonafide marine fishermen having fishing licence continuously for a minimum period of ten years. b) Should have the land and the house recorded in his/her name without any encumbrance (Copy of land record and certificate from the Pradhan to be furnished). c) Applicant should be married and staying with his family.
2.	Old age pension for marine fishermen.	Rs. 300/- per month for marine fishermen of age 60 years and above.	a) Bonafide marine fishermen having fishing licence continuously for a minimum period of fifteen years and actually engaged in fishing activities. b) Widow fisherwomen having no other source of income for herself for subsistence. c) Should have attained age of 60 years and above at the time of application. d) Should not be in possession of any landed property other than house site allotted under the scheme of Fisheries Department/ Revenue Department. e) Should not be in receipt of old age pension from any other source.
3.	Financial Assistance for loss of craft and gear while fishing.	a) Maximum Rs. 5,000/- per traditional craft without engine. b) Maximum Rs. 10,000/- for motorized craft. c) Maximum Rs. 20,000/- for mechanized boat.	a) Should be a bonafide marine fishermen possessing valid fishing licence issued by the Fisheries Deptt. A&N Islands at the time of incident. b) Fishermen while fishing lost/ damaged their fishing craft are also eligible for assistance on possession of valid fishing licence at the time of the incident based on the assessed loss of gear. c) The loss/ damage of craft and fishing gears should be reported immediately to the nearest Fisheries Sub Station/ Police Out Post within 48 hours of the incident (copy of FIR/ intimation given to the Fisheries Department should be produced). d) Should not have applied/ received any assistance from any other Govt. agency for the similar purpose.
4.	Financial Assistance for loss of craft, gear and fish during natural calamities.	25% of the assessed cost of fishing craft, gear and fish lost.	a) Should be a bonafide marine fishermen possessing valid fishing licence issued by the Fisheries Deptt. A&N Islands at the time of incident. b) Fishermen while fishing lost/ damaged their fishing craft are also eligible for assistance on possession of valid fishing licence at the time of the incident based on the assessed loss of gear. c) The loss/ damage of craft and fishing gears should be reported immediately to the nearest Fisheries Sub Station/ Police Out Post within 48 hours of the incident (copy of FIR/ intimation given to the Fisheries Department should be produced). d) Should not have applied/ received any assistance from any other Govt. agency for the similar purpose.

Applications in the prescribed format are invited from bonafide marine fishermen of the A & N Islands for selection of eligible beneficiaries for assistance during the current financial year (2005-06). Applications forms and further details of the programmes can be obtained from the Directorate of Fisheries, Port Blair/Fisheries Central Store, Phoenix Bay, Port Blair/Zonal Fisheries Office Mayabunder/Car Nicobar and Fisheries Sub Station at Neil and Havelock, Kadamtala, Rangat, Billiground, Diglipur, Hut Bay, Katchal, Nancowry and Campbell Bay. The last date for submission of filled in applications forms to the Directorate of Fisheires/Zonal Office/Fisheries Sub Station is 16^th June, 2005.