Port Blair, Jan. 22: Addressing the local media at Raj Niwas today, the Union Minister for Home Affairs, Shri. P. Chidambaram said that his visit to the islands was decided prior to the time when Jarawa Video surfaced on National and International media.

To a question on having an Assembly in the Islands, Chidambaram cleared that there are no such thoughts.  

Answering a question on why the Union Territories were spared under Lok Pal, the Minister said that once Lok Pal Bill is established, it can be extended to the UTs. First let the bill get passed, he said.

Responding to the question of influx of population and the need for ‘Inner Line Permit’, the Home Minister stated that there is no influx of population in the islands as per records. The data available shows that there has been a gradual increase in population.

The Minister further apprised that the Tsunami Rehabilitation has been completed in the islands except for carpeting of roads and compensation to the victims whose land got submerged.

There is not much land available in the islands. 93% of the land available are either forest reserves or under similar categorisation. Therefore it is not possible to provide alternate land to the victims.

Tsunami, he explained is a natural disaster and it is on the part of the govt. to provide compensation. The govt. has decided to pay Rs. 9.39 per hectare of land to the victims. It can be disbursed easily but the decision has to be accepted. He further said that there has been an overwhelming response from majority of the victims on the compensation decided.

I have told the all political parties who met me to come to a consensus so as to provide compensation at the earliest, Chidambaram said.

Regarding reduction in normal airfares and airfare for the stretcher patients, the Home Minister said that Govt. does not fix airfares. It is fixed by the airlines. We have provided 90% subsidy on ships.

There are certain decisions being taken to tackle the abnormal airfares in this sector. If it works, the situation would improve, the Minister added.

On the matter of having transhipment ports, Chidambaram said that it is just an idea, which has to be carefully studied and justified by a rigorous study.