Def Min cancels NOC for Andaman and Nicobar hotel project

The Defence Ministry has cancelled a no-objection certificate issued by the tri- services command to a foreign firm to build a three-star hotel and a yacht facility at Viper Island in Andaman and Nicobar.
The NOC issued by the tri-services command in 2009 was recently cancelled, Defence Ministry officials said here.
The Ministry has written a letter to Andaman and Nicobar Islands MP Bishnu Pada Ray that the NOC for the Yacht Marina Project at Viper Island has been cancelled by it.
Ray had raised objections over the project on security grounds as the Viper Island is situated very close to Navy and Coast Guard harbour and other crucial defence establishments.

The Andaman administration was planning to build a 50 berth Yacht Marina, which was supposed to be developed by Indo-Malaysian company for promoting tourism in the region.
Ray had also written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last September demanding an independent inquiry into the alleged transfer of land to private companies at the rate of Rs 1 per annum.
After the Sukna land scam in 2008, the Defence Ministry has taken very strong steps to check the unauthorised transfer of defence land and issuing NOCs.
The right of issuing NOCs has been taken away from the local formation commanders and for every such case, the final decision is taken by the Defence Ministry.