Campbell Bay, 21 Jan 2021
Shri Ajoy Bairagi, State President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has written a letter to Mananiya Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism and request him to resolve various issues pertaining to North and Middle Andaman District.
Shri. Ajoy Bairagi in his letter to the Minister has mentioned that the general public especially those who are involved in the Tourism Industry have been severely affected both financially and mentally due to the unwarranted rules and regulations imposed by A & N Administration.
He added that the Standard Operating Procedure for North and Middle Andaman District has been published by the Administration on 1st of December 2020 but the same has not been implemented till date.
He further mentioned that unwarranted rules and regulations have been imposed by A & N Administration even though no COVID-19 case is presently active in the district. He requested the Minister to resume the convey system based on the pre-pandemic pattern i.e. four convoys To/From Baratang to Jirgatang.
Shri. Ajoy Bairagi also informed the Minister that more than 150 FRP boats have been not operational in Baratang and Diglipur which employs about 700-800 people and all of whom are on verge of collapse both mentally and financially. He added that the stakeholders of tourism industry in North and Middle Andaman District who have availed loans from banks are on the verge of becoming defaulters. He also informed the Minister that good tourism footfall has been witnessed in South Andaman District from December 2020 but the tourism sector of North and Middle Andaman couldn’t reap the benefits. Several inquiries were also received by the stakeholders of North and Middle Andaman Tourism from local and mainland travel agents, he added.
Shri. Ajoy Bairagi also mentioned some of the problems which the stakeholders will face after the Administration allows tourism in the District. He mentioned that each FRP boat will have to undergo IV (Inland Vessel) Survey for which an estimated 1-1.5 Lakhs would be required per FRP boat because the boats have been idle for almost one year now because of the pandemic.
He further added that each boat will also have to pay about Rs. 25,000/- to Port Management Board annually on account of Jetty/Wharf/PSF charges even though the boats have been lying idle for about a year because of the pandemic. He also informed the Minister that the IV Act came into existence in the year 2016 with stringent rules and during the enforcement relaxations were provided multiple times by the Hon’ble Lt. Governor. He further informed that now the FRP boat owners are not in situation to comply with the act because of the pandemic and hence one time relaxation of six months may be granted without compromising the safety of the tourists.
He requested the Minister to consider all issues on humanitarian grounds and do the needful for the benefit of the general public.
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