WARM
WELCOME
Hon’ble
Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu and his spouse Smti. Usha Naidu during
a visit to A&N Islands were extended a very warm welcome by Admiral D K
Joshi, Hon’ble Lt Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands
Development Agency and Smt. Chitra Joshi, Hon’ble First Lady of the Islands at
Raj Niwas on 16.01.2020. Mementos were exchanged.
VISIT
TO FLAG POINT
The
Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu visited the historic location at South
Point here. In a Face book Post, Shri Naidu wrote.
“Visited
the historic location at South Point in Port Blair where Netaji Subhash Chandra
Bose hoisted the Tricolor on 30th December 1943 for the first time and declared
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the first Indian Territory to be freed from
British Raj.
I am
delighted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had commemorated the 75th year
of the first hoisting of the Tricolour on the Indian soil by Netaji and had
unfurled the Tricolour on a 150-feet high Flag mast.
I
appreciate the UT Administration for developing a beautiful Sea Promenade,
which has a wall depicting ‘Jai Hind’, granite pillars paying tributes to
unknown soldiers and depicting ‘Jai Hind!’ in 14 Indian languages, a wall
depicting its history and a huge depiction
of the year ‘1943’. I am happy that the project was undertaken under the Smart
City mission. I also compliment the Port Blair Municipal Council for having
facilitated its completion in a record time of 45 days.”
10
HIGH QUALITY AC BUSES FLAGGED OFF
Port
Blair, Jan 17: The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu flagged off 10 Air
Conditioned buses for the benefit of the city dwellers. The newly flagged off
21-seater high quality Air Conditioned buses have been procured by the
Transport Department, A&N Administration, to increase the comfort and
ambience of public transport buses for the people of these Islands.
With
this service, the commuters get an upgraded public transport at a reasonable
fare. These buses are equipped with GPS based vehicle tracking, passenger
information system, which announces and displays all the stations from the
inside panel. Moreover, these buses have security cameras and panic button
inside the saloon for the safety of passengers.
THE
VICE PRESIDENT VISITED THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL CELLULAR JAIL AND LAID A WREATH AT
THE MARTYR’S COLUMN THERE
He
also visited the Veer Savarkar Cell and Central Tower of the Cellular Jail.
This was followed by a visit to the Gallery, depicting old photographs of
Andamans. The Vice President also visited Photo Gallery & Exhibition
Gallery, where he witnessed the photographs of the freedom fighters.
In
the visitor’s book, the Vice President wrote “M. Venkaiah Naidu visited
Cellular Jail along with children and grand children. The History is preserved
here and it is worth visiting for every Indian child (Youth). You get so much
inspiration. Well maintained and need to preserve it for future”.
Thereafter,
the Vice President witnessed the Sound & Light show in the Cellular Jail
and also visited the Veer Savarkar Park adjacent to the Cellular Jail.
NATURE
PARK AND INTERPRETATION CENTRE INAUGURATED
Port
Blair, Jan 17: The Vice-President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated
the Nature Park and Interpretation Centre (NPIC) at Haddo. He was accompanied
by Admiral D K Joshi, Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice Chairman, Islands
Development Agency. The Vice President unveiled a plaque to inaugurate the
NPIC. The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Chetan B. Sanghi, DGP,
Shri Dependra Pathak, PCCF (E&F), Shri Tarun Coomar, PCCF (WL) Shri D M Shukla
and other senior officers of the Administration were present on the occasion.
The
Vice President visited the Butterfly Conservatory and released some butterflies
in the Conservatory. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have around 300 species of
butterflies, out of which 207 are endemic to the region. Water bodies with
inter-connecting channels have been added in the conservatory to provide the
much required moist and airy micro climate for the butterflies to thrive.
Shri
Naidu also visited the Orchids and Ferns House in the Nature Park and
Interpretation Centre, which showcases the habitat of the tropical orchids. So
far about 140 species of orchids and an equal number of ferns have been
reported from the Andaman Islands. They include tree-ferns, whose origin can be
traced back to the Jurassic era. Vanilla, used in confectionaries is also
sourced from an orchid species found in these Islands. The Vice President also
planted a Rudraaksh sapling there.
At
the Nature Park, the Vice President also appreciated a wooden sculpture of a
mother and child, made out of the trunk of a single Andaman Padauk tree. The
sculpture represents nature as a mother, who lovingly nurtures all her
creation. A tribal woman has been depicted as the mother, as a mark of deep
respect to the tribal people of Andaman, who are revered as the protectors of
the Islands.
The
Vice President also visited the Tree Top Cafeteria, where he was briefed about
the Nature Park and Interpretation Centre and its objective by the PCCF (WL).
CIVIC
RECEPTION AT AMBEDKAR AUDITORIUM
Port
Blair, Jan 22: The Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu on Jan 17, 2020
suggested the inclusion of the life stories of Veer Savarkar and other heroes
of the freedom struggle from different parts of the country, in school
textbooks. Participating in a Civic Reception hosted in his honor by the Port
Blair Municipal Council (PBMC), he said that the historical role of the
Cellular Jail in Andaman in the freedom movement should also form part of
History textbooks. He also urged all Members of Parliament, MLAs and MLCs from
across the country to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Cellular Jail.
Recalling
his visit to the Cellular Jail the previous day, Shri Naidu described it as a
pilgrimage to a sacred temple. Decrying the attempts to create divisive
tendencies among the people, he said that unity is the need of the hour.
Pointing out that our freedom was hard won, he urged all citizens to draw
inspiration from the story of India's struggle for independence and from the
countless sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and strive to reinforce the
unity and integrity of this nation.
Earlier
in the day, the Vice President inaugurated the Nature Park and Interpretation
Centre at Haddo in Port Blair. He released butterflies and went around the
butterfly conservatory at the Park.
He
also flagged off AC buses. The Vice President complimented the Andaman &
Nicobar Administration for the initiative and said that it would provide
sustainable mobility solutions and help in keeping the Islands clean and green.
Praising
the Administration for banning the use of single-use-plastics and for
implementing the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in letter and spirit, Shri Naidu said
that these initiatives including the increase in renewable energy capacity
would promote sustainable development in the Islands.
Expressing
his concern about the vulnerability of the Islands to climate change, the Vice
President said that India was playing a leadership role in promoting renewable
energy, especially solar energy through initiatives like the International
Solar Alliance.
Highlighting
the role of connectivity in development, the Vice President expressed
confidence that submarine Optical Fibre cable connectivity that is set to be
operational by June 2020 would transform the development of the Islands.
"Four routes in the Islands have been included in UDAN for regional
connectivity and International air travel is expected to be operational from
Port Blair this year", he added.
Launching
the project for the replacement of traditional electricity meters with smart
meters, Shri Naidu termed it as a pro-poor move. The Vice President said that
smart meters will increase the ease of bill payment and eliminate the
possibility of incorrect billing. He added that paperless billing with smart
meters would also help the environment by saving the trees. He also laid the
foundation stones for Feacal Sludge Treatment Plant, Marine Esplanade and
Neighborhood Park, by pressing the remote control.
Earlier,
the Vice President visited a photo gallery and exhibition put up by the Port
Blair Municipal Council on 'Sanitation and Solid waste management'. The gallery
showcased the best practices of the PBMC in the arena of sanitation and solid
waste management, such as the use of 10 percent plastic in road construction
and the restoration of traditional Japanese wells under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan.
In
his address on the occasion, Lt. Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Vice
Chairman, Islands Development Agency, Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM,
VSM (Retd.) at the outset welcomed the Vice President on behalf of the A&N
Administration and the Islanders. He mentioned that through the Island
Development Agency, two transformational projects have been inaugurated during
this month. On January 9, the cable laying work of the Optical Fibre Cable
Project connecting Port Blair and 7 other Islands started, the foundation of
which was laid by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi during his visit to
these Islands in December 2018. This historic project, which will be completed
by June 2020, will increase speed of data and other public services being
provided through digital mode. The bandwidth augmentation will be almost 60
times of the present bandwidth and will indeed give a boost to the economic
activities, besides bringing transparency in the public services delivery and
also improve skill development. Within two months' time, the Satellite
bandwidth will be increased from 3.6 to 4.5 Gbps which will be a major step
towards 'Digital India', the Lt. Governor added.
The
Lt. Governor said that the first Ship to Ship (STS) Transshipment hub in India
at Port Meadow, A&N Islands will commence its operations soon as an
agreement in this regard has been executed on Jan 7, 2020 which will be
profitable from the first year itself. The agreement has been signed between
the Port Management Board with MATSYA Shipping and Ports Private Limited,
Kolkata (an Indo-German Joint venture company) and once the operations starts,
about 40lakh MT of cargo is expected to be trans-shipped every year. Port
Meadow provides an all weather ideal location for off shore STS operations and
it lies at an advantageous location to attract cargo emanating from Australia,
New Zealand & South East Asia and bound for Ports of East Coast of India,
West coast of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The revenue generation through STS
operations at Port Meadow, A&N Islands is expected to further increase to
20-40 crores per annum in times to come.
The
Lt Governor said these Islands despite geographical challenges are marching
forward on the path of progress by way of developing various projects to become
a 'New Andamans'.
The
Lt. Governor further said that under the agenda of the Island Development
Agency and with the support of the NITI Aayog, four big Eco-Tourism projects
will be developed on PPP mode for which RFQ application has been invited by
Jan. 31, 2020. Under these eco-tourism projects, 60 percent jobs will be made
available to the local youth of these Islands.
The
Lt. Governor said a Joint Task Force has been constituted to give boost for
bringing construction materials from ASEAN Countries. This, the Lt. Governor
said will not only bring down the cost of living but accelerate economic
development through tourism and business.
The Lt. Governor said that the
work to make NH-4 a double lane and the work of the two bridges at Humphrey and
Middle Strait are also underway. These projects will reduce the travel time
from Diglipur to Port Blair significantly. The execution of these projects is a
major effort of the Administration towards infrastructure development in Isles.
The Lt. Governor informed about the 6th IDA meeting chaired by the Union Home
Minister on Jan 13 in which important decisions were taken on the upcoming
projects which will have far reaching impact.
The
Lt. Governor said for regional connectivity under 'UDAN Scheme', the Civil
Aviation Ministry has started bidding process for four routes. Facility of sea
planes will be made available in these Islands for which the Airport Authority
of India is developing water aerodromes for its smooth operations.
He
said, Consultant has been appointed for the development of two Green Field
Airports, one at Port Blair and the other at Campbell Bay. The project report
will be submitted by the Consultant within two months. The new airport terminal
complex at Port Blair will be completed this year itself. There is also a proposal
to upgrade the fleet strength of Pawan Hans Helicopters with new increased
passenger capacity helicopters, the Lt Governor said.
The
Lt. Governor further informed about the proposed Modern Container Transshipment
Port to be set up at South Bay in Great Nicobar Island which will not only
contribute towards the socio-economic development of these Islands but also
towards the economic growth of the country. The A&N Administration has
invited Expression of Interest for the establishment of the Container Transshipment
Port under PPP Mode and the process for selecting developers is underway.
The
Lt. Governor said that for power generation, the Administration is focusing
more on renewable and clean energy power plants and moving towards
de-dieselization. The Administration has plans for de-dieselization from
current 9% to 93% within three years time for which different energy efficiency
projects have been undertaken.
The
Lt. Governor mentioned that the Administration is instrumental in executing
various transformational projects for these Islands through IDA by which 'New
Andamans' can actively contribute towards fulfilling the vision of 'New India'.
The
Lt. Governor also thanked the Vice President for inaugurating and laying
foundation stones for different transformational projects for the benefit of
the people of these Islands.
VISITED
RAMAKRISHNA MISSION
The
Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu visited the Ramakrishna Mission at Port
Blair on Jan 18, 2020. He also visited the library of the Mission in the same
premises.
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