THELIGHTOFANDAMANS: Unclear Clearances and Procedures

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Unclear Clearances and Procedures

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 36 | ISSUE 01 | 01 OCT 2012

Unclear Clearances and Procedures

Subramanian Swamy, President, Janata Party recently sought information regarding the procedures followed for the selection of the firm to execute the project of setting up of Marina at Viper Island. In a correspondence to Satish Mathur, Secretary Tourism, Swamy has raised concern saying that as the matter involves national security, the Admn must reveal the procedures adopted to select the party to execute the project.

Swamy wrote to the Admn after Bishnu Pada Ray had forwarded a letter received from the Secretary Tourism answering queries about the Viper Marina Project

The ANI Admn have procured clearance from Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC) for the Yacht Marina Project. However, it is alleged that the Security Clearance has to come from Integrated Defence Services Headquarters for such a project.

Ministry of Defence in response to a RTI filed by the protestors have informed that they have not received any proposal from ANI Admn to develop the 50-berth Yacht marina alongwith accommodation facilities at Viper Island has been accorded security clearance. "We have received a No Objection Certificate from Andaman and Nicobar Command for development of a Yacht Marina at Viper Island and Command Point in principle," said Amit Sateja.

Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) has also informed in response to an RTI application that they haven't received any documents on environment and CRZ clearances regarding development of the Yacht Marina at Viper Island.

1 comment:

Debkumar Bhadra said...: After Light of Andamans "Expose" the project proponents have been working even on Saturdays, just to get an EIA done post facto.; October 6, 2012 at 6:58 AM

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About The Light of Andamans

The Light of Andamans’ was born out of the zeal and determination to fight against the suffocating Kafkaesque atmosphere on the society that existed even after 30 years of Independence under bureaucratic rule. It was a hangover of the ‘Raj’that extended much too long in the Islands.

The Light of Andamans’ was started in 1975. The paper had always been a crusader, taking up the causes that no other newspaper would touch. In doing so, it very often stepped on the toes of the authorities and had to face persecution in the form of denial of advertisements and numerous court cases against it. For a small stint, the publication came to a halt in 2003.

Gezira Publications Private Limited took over the paper in the year 2005 and transferred the title in a bid to revive the second oldest newsmagazine from extinction and also to carry forward the mission.

The Newsmagazine, under the new management, has undergone a sea change both in form and content. It turned into a full-fledged tabloid with 10 pages with plenty of photographs making both pleasing to the eyes and soothing for the mind. “It has acquired a position where it influences the policies in vital matters concerning the development of the islands, protection of aboriginal tribes and addressing the problems of the disadvantaged groups. The newsmagazine is known and appreciated for its bold, free, fair and balanced reporting.”

Late Govinda Raju and his team worked very hard to rebuild the reputation, goodwill and a healthy new image of the newsmagazine brick by brick. After the demise of Mr Raju in 2010, the magazine is now being edited by Zubair Ahmed and published by Basudev Dass. The newsmagazine continues its mission of highlighting policy issues pertaining to the Islands.