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Andaman and Nicobar Administration

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Directorate of IP&T

Port Blair, May 26, 2005

Relief efforts continue

On 26^th December, 2004 a severe earthquake hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The severe earthquake was followed by the fiercest tsunami in the country’s living memory. The tsunami battered the Southern group of islands killing more than 3500 and causing huge damage to property. More than 10000 houses were fully damaged. All the household items, tool kits of affected were washed away.

Special Relief Officers were placed in all islands and the requisitions were being placed by these officers and tribal captains to the Administration for various items. Most of these had to be mobilized from mainland. Shri Puneet Kumar Goel, Relief Commissioner, personally contacted the officers in various states and Govt. of India to mobilise the relief materials for the affected people. The chemicals for disposal of dead bodies, mineral water, food articles and cooked food etc. were mobilised from various states through their Relief Commissioners. The articles worth crores of Rupees were donated by these states. Shri Goel personally contacted Joint Relief Commissioner of Gujarat to send HAM Radio operators here so that communication with various islands can be established.

Requisition was received from Southern group of Islands for purchase of CGI sheets, household articles and tool kits. Plastic rope was one of the items requisitioned by Nicobarese with the tool kits as these were very useful for construction of Machans, boundaries, agricultural and fishing purposes. The items were requisitioned for 10,000 affected families and the fishermen.

To meet the emergent situations arising due to the tsunami, the Administration gave requisition to GOI for supply of various items based on the demands received from Field Officers/Tribal Captains etc. Plastic rope was one such item demanded by the Tribal Captain, being a multi utility item used in house construction, packaging, fishing, anchoring of boats etc. Accordingly consolidated requirement of tool kits and plastic ropes was forwarded to GOI. The GOI procured these items through various State Governments. Government of Maharashtra supplied 5290 packets of ropes to this Administration. This Administration did not purchase these items from any supplier directly. Out of 5290 packets, more than 3500 packets have been distributed on the basis of requisition received. For the remaining material there is a demand from the Nicobar District for construction of Machans and boundaries and for agricultural and fishing purposes. The material is being supplied regularly.

Circuit court at Port Blair

Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.C. Ghose and Hon’ble Mr. Justice N.C. Sil, Judges of the Calcutta High Court, shall be holding Circuit Court at Port Blair on and from 6^th June, 2005 to 21^st June, 2005 (both days inclusive) to dispose off cases pending in the Hon’ble High Court. Writ applications shall also be entertained.

Compliance of PFA Rules

All the Shopkeepers, Manufacturers and Food Industry Association are advised to print `Best before date’ and `Date of Manufacture’ on the packaged food including bread and alcoholic beverages including Beer for compliance with provisions of the PFA Rules 1955 failing which action as required under the PFA Act and Rules made thereunder will be initiated against the manufacturers and sellers.

Issue of Special Relief Cards

It is to inform the residents of Panchayat area of Ferrargunj and Port Blair Tehsil that a list of tsunami affected persons has been received from District Office. All such tsunami affected families are eligible for `Special Relief Cards’ to draw P.D.S foodgrains at par with AAY for a period of one year. But, the response of the people from some areas has been poor so far. The list is displayed in the premises of the Directorate of Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs. The persons whose names appear in the list may submit their ration cards for converting the same into `Special Relief Cards’. Those who have lost their ration cards will be issued new Special Relief Cards.

Scheme for cyber café in rural areas

The Directorate of Industries, A&N Administration, has formulated plan scheme `Capital Investment Subsidy on Establishment of Cyber Café in the rural area’. The scheme has been approved by GOI and notified in A&N Administration’s Official Gazette.

Under this scheme 50% Capital Investment Subsidy on Establishment of Cyber Café (IT sector) in the rural area i.e. 50% of the fixed capital investment shall be reimbursed subject to a maximum of Rs.5 lakh to units irrespective of their size which are set up on or after 01.04.2002 or to units which has gone substantial expansion after 01.04.2002.

This scheme is applicable to all form of organizations i.e. Individual Proprietors, Partnership Firms, Companies, Government Undertakings, Co-operatives, Local bodies or in the form of joint ventures in the rural area of A&N Islands.

Interested eligible Industrial unit/cluster may submit their claim in the prescribed proforma. For further details can be had from the Programme Implementing Officer. Directorate of Industries room no. 7 on working days. They can also log on to http://www.and.nic.in/ for information.

Scheme for tourism, IT

The Directorate of Industries, A&N Administration, has formulated plan scheme ` 50% Capital Subsidy to Tourism, Information Technology, Fisheries, Coconut and Arecanut related activities in rural area’. The scheme has been approved by GOI and notified in A&N Administration’s Official Gazette.

Under this scheme Capital Subsidy @ 50% on the fixed capital investment shall be reimbursed to the units engaged in i) Tourism ii) Information Technology iii) Fisheries iv) Coconut and Arecanut related activities in the rural areas of A&N Islands subject to a maximum of Rs.100 lakh irrespective of their size which are set up on or after 01.04.2002 or to units which has gone substantial expansion after 01.04.2002.

Heavy rainfall warning

Heavy rains likely to occur at isolated places over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during next 48 hours.