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Port Blair, May 9: The Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Bhopinder Singh inaugurated two new fish landing centres at Rangat and Mayabunder today. The fish landing centres at Pokkaderra (Mayabunder) and Rangat Bay (Rangat) have facilities for landing/berthing of small traditional motorized and non-motorized fishing crafts, net mending shed, gear repair shed, fish drying platform and other allied facilities for the benefit of the fishing community.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor stated that these fish landing centres have been developed to provide facilities for hygienic landing of fish, safe berthing of fishing crafts and facilities for upkeep and maintenance of fishing gears. He further stated fishery is one of the sectors with huge growth potential as there are huge fishery resources available in the A&N Islands waters, particularly tuna and tuna like fish. With the creation of fisheries infrastructure, these marine wealth can be tapped to its full potential, which can contribute significantly to the overall socio-economic development of the Islands.
Referring to the various undergoing fishery projects, he stated that construction of two more fish landing centres one each at Durgapur (Diglipur) and Yeratta are also in the advanced stages of completion and expected to be operational shortly. Altogether 19 sites have been identified for construction of fish landing centres in the Islands. One fish landing centre is already established at Junglighat which will be extended to set up chilled tuna packing facilities for accommodating more number of mechanized and deep sea fishing vessels and export of tuna from the Islands. The remaining fish landing centres will also be completed in a phased manner.
The Lt Governor further stated that new Ice Plants and Cold Storage are also being established at Car Nicobar, Nancowry, Campbell Bay, Mayabunder and Port Blair. Ten Fish Aggregation Device (FAD) have already been established, subsidy assistance is being extended to the fishermen and other beneficiaries for purchase of fishing material, engines, deep freezers, insulated ice boxes, and mechanized fishing boats under various schemes. Further considering the poor financial status of the fishermen, suitable site has been allotted at Rangat and Diglipur for Development of Model Fishermen Village. The Department has also completed the process of uniform online registration of fishing vessels and issuance of fishing licenses.
He further stated that to enhance the fishing capacity in the Islands, 200 mechanized fishing crafts are proposed to be introduced through subsidy over a period of next five years. Schemes are also available for purchase of Deep Sea Fishing Vessels and establishment of Ice Plants and Cold Storages on subsidy under RKVY.
Later, the Lt Governor held a meeting with the PRI members and local head of different departments and directed them to attend to the problems and grievances of the people on priority.
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State Board For Wildlife Meets
Port Blair, May 8: The 7th meeting of the State Board for Wildlife was held under the chairmanship of the Lt Governor, Lt General (Retd) Bhopinder Singh at Raj Niwas today. The meeting discussed the action taken report on recommendation of previous meetings and also discussed new agenda points besides other relevant issues regarding preservation and protection of flora, fauna and wildlife of the Islands.
The Lt. Governor directed Police and Forest departments for augmenting the Forest and Police force at the outposts at Tillongchang and Indira Point as these areas are frequented by foreign poachers and to submit a compliance report within a week’s time.
On introduced invasive species like spotted deer and wild elephants creating trouble for the villagers, the Lt Governor directed the Forest authorities for addressing the issues by finding meaningful solutions.
He also directed the authorities to display boards containing information regarding rare wildlife and endemic species at prominent places visited by tourists like beaches, roadsides, parks, jetties, airport etc. so that the rich marine and forest life can be shown to the outside world particularly the children to expose them to the wonders of the islands.
The Lt Governor also laid emphasis on the involvement of PRIs in the maintenance of beaches and parks and to involve children in making these places litter free zones.
The Chief Secretary, Shri Anand Prakash, Chief Captain, Car Nicobar, Shri Aberdeen Blair, officiating DGP, Adyaksha, Zilla Parishad (SA), senior Forest Officers, officers from defence establishment, senior officers of the Administration, representative of A&N Environment Team, representatives of A&N Ecology Team and NIOT, Port Blair were also present in the meeting.
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ASI Director Suggests More Such Seminars to Exchange Ideas and Enrich Knowledge of Anthropologists
Port Blair, May 7: The two day long national seminar on Hunter Gatherers organised by the regional centre of Anthropological Survey of India (ASI) at Port Blair concluded today. Delivering the valedictory address, the Director of Anthropological Survey of India, Prof K K Misra called upon the regional heads to organize more such seminars from time to time for exchange of ideas among the anthropologists and thereby enriching their knowledge in the field.
Appreciating the centre for organising the seminar, he said the experts from different parts of the country presented papers covering a wide range of topics concerning the hunter gatherers and contributed much to the islands’ anthropology and Islands’ culture. These papers will be compiled and published in the form a book by the ASI centre at Port Blair, he said.
The seminar marked the culmination of the year long Diamond Jubilee celebration of ASI regional centre at Port Blair, which started with the seminar in February last year. In the seminar on Life, Livelihood Strategies and Technology among the Hunter-Gatherers, 25 papers were presented in four sessions, besides three special lectures by the eminent anthropologists, Prof. R K Mutalkar, Prof B Ananda Banu and Dr J K Sarkar.
At the photographic exhibition titled Island Cultures of India, a large number of impressive photographs reflecting the unique cultures island territories in India are displayed.
As part of the closing ceremony, a colourful tribal folk cultural programme was presented at the ASI auditorium reflecting the multifaceted culture of different tribal groups of these islands including Nicobarese and Ranchi communities.