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Denis Giles

09 March 2013

Created: 09 March 2013

Last Updated: 09 March 2013

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Port Blair, Feb. 28: Participating in a ‘0’ Hour discussion on 26^th Feb. 2013 in the floor of the Lok Sabha, the Member of Parliament of Shri. Bishnu Pada Ray said that in order to solve the problems being faced by the people of A&N Islands and Lakshadweep, an Authority was formulated in 1980, namely “Island Development Authority” under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Prime Minister assisted by the Hon’ble Cabinet Minister. The main purpose prescribed was that there should be minimum four meetings every year to solve and redress the grievances being faced by the Islanders.

He emphasized that as per the news published in the Administration’s ‘The Daily Telegram’ dated 20.01.2003 it was decided in the IDA Meeting held on 19.01.2003 under the Chairmanship of the then Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (during NDA Govt. period) that the Govt. will allot one Hact. of land to the Pre-42 Islanders, Settlers and to the descendents of the settlers who came before the Independence in the Islands.

Accordingly the Survey was held and about an area of 16,270 Hact. Deemed Forest Land was surveyed about 3 years ago. About 4000 hact. land also could be traced under Survey from the land formed by the Tsunami waves of 2004. Thus, about 2 Lakh 10 thousand bighas of land is available now.

However, it was decided in the IDA meeting held in 2003 that, the Pre-42 Islanders, Settlers and ancestors who are residing prior to Independence should be allotted with one Hact. of Land. At present, though, land is available, the allotment is not yet been made.

Bishnu said that he has personally taken up this issue with the Hon’ble Prime Minister using his personal contacts, several letters as well as through the Agenda Points submitted for the IDA meetings.

There was only one IDA Meeting held under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 15.06.2011 for 40 minutes but there could not be any discussion about my Agenda Points as well as the decisions made under the 10^th IDA Meeting which was held on 19.01.2003.

Bishnu thus demanded that the Pre-42 Islanders, Settlers and those who belong to the community, who came before Independence be allotted the land as decided in the IDA meeting.

He also briefed the house that it was decided for the construction of the National Highway from Port Blair to Diglipur for a distance of 333 Kms. Bishnu therefore demanded that construction of the National Highway in the Islands be executed as decided in the IDA.