Page 5 - Andaman And Nicobar Islands

EoIs for ports: Experts sound Joshimath alarm for Great Nicobar Island

Both Joshimath and the Great Nicobar come under the high-risk seismic zone V category

Govt set to invite EoIs for Rs 41k-cr Great Nicobar Port on Saturday

Ambitious Rs 41k-cr transhipment terminal plan mired by environmental concerns

Govt invites EOIs for Rs 41,000 cr port project in Great Nicobar Island

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has invited expressions of interest (EOI) from interested players for a Rs 41,000 crore international transhipment port project at Great Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal. The ministry in a release on Friday said that the project is expected to be complete with an investment of Rs 41,000 crore (USD 5 billion), including investment from both government and PPP concessionaire. The proposed port in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will have ultimate capacity to handle 16 million containers per year and in the first phase will handle above 4 million containers. Other projects planned around the transhipment port include airport, township and power plant, it added. The project is located on the international trade route, with existing transhipment terminals like Singapore, Klang and Colombo in proximity. According to the statement, the project focuses on three key drivers which can result in making it a leading container transhipment port,

SC panel questions need to revive oil palm plantations in Andamans

Oil palm plantations raised in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the past have proven to be a total commercial failure, the Supreme Court-constituted Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has said, questioning the need to revive the commercial crop in the archipelago. In a note submitted to the apex court on January 12, the committee said any permission for diversion of forest land for red oil palm plantation in the archipelago in violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, "is bound to open flood gates in all the states for similar agricultural purposes on forest lands". The CEC also said oil palm plantation might lead to encroachment of forest lands in the islands group and asked why the production of palm oil could not be taken up on the mainland. The Union Territory administration, in January 2019, moved the Supreme Court seeking revocation of its 2002 ban on commercial and monoculture plantations on forest land in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The proposal is part of the .

PM Modi names 21 islands in Andaman and Nicobar after decorated soldiers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday virtually unveiled the model of a proposed memorial dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, to be set up in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and said it will infuse feelings of patriotism among people. Modi, on the occasion of Netaji's 126th birth anniversary, also named 21 islands of the Union Territory after Param Vir Chakra awardees. He noted that the islands will be a source of inspiration for generations to come. The PM also said that attempts were made to downplay Netaji's contribution to the freedom movement, but the entire country, right from Delhi and Bengal to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is paying tribute to the great hero today, preserving history and heritage associated with him. He also pointed out that demands to make Netaji's files public were made by many for long, and his government has done that. Netaji will be remembered for his fierce resistance to colonial rule, he stated. "Today, it is a proud moment for me as I address t

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Renaming of islands in Andamans done to gain popularity: Mamata alleges PM

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that the renaming of islands in Andaman and Nicobar was done to merely gain popularity since Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had himself named the islands as Shahid' and Swaraj' Dweep when he had visited the archipelago in 1943. She also accused the Centre of scrapping the Planning Commission envisaged by the legendary freedom fighter. Notably, Neil and Havelock islands in Andamans were, in 2018, renamed as Shahid' Dweep and 'Swaraj' Dweep by the Centre. Ross Island was also rechristened as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep to honour the freedom fighter. Banerjee's reaction came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi named 21 islands of the Union Territory after Param Vir Chakra awardees on the occasion of Bose's 126th birth anniversary. "Today only to gain popularity, some are claiming to have given names of Andaman islands Shahid and Swaraj Dweep, but these islands were given such names by Bose when he had gone there to ..

PM to name 21 unnamed islands in Andaman-Nicobar, pay tribute to Bose today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to virtually participate in an event to name the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees on the Parakram Diwas on Monday.The Government had declared January 23 as Parakram Diwas in 2021 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose."Tomorrow, on the day of bravery, there will be a special program in honor of the heroic children of Mother India. Will be a part of it through video conferencing at 11 am. During this, 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman-Nicobar will be named after 21 Param Vir Chakra winners," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet on Sunday.According to an official release from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), PM Modi would also unveil the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep.Keeping in mind the historical significance of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and to honor the memory of ...

PM to inaugurate model of proposed Netaji memorial in Andamans on Jan 23

PM Modi to virtually inaugurate model of proposed memorial Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on January 23 to commemorate freedom fighter's 126th birth anniversary

Govt invites EoI for Rs 17,000-cr transhipment port in Nicobar by Jan-end

The transhipment port would enable big ships to anchor and raise India's share in maritime trade, create new job opportunities and save a lot of forex, officials stated

Rajnath Singh on two-day visit to Andamans; to review preparedness of ANC

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will arrive here on Thursday to review the operational preparedness of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), officials said. On his two day visit, Singh will hold a high-level meeting with Lt Gen Ajai Singh, the 16th Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), to get a first-hand report of the overall operational situation, they said. The Union minister is scheduled to arrive in Port Blair around 1.30 pm. Singh's itinerary includes a military surveillance at Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island, where the naval air station INS Baaz is located. The defence minister expressed his desire to personally visit INS Baaz on Friday to oversee the station's capabilities to thwart challenges, the officials said. Singh will also be interacting with the troops deployed in and around the Islands. He may announce some key development projects including extension of the runway at Car Nicobar, Campbell Bay and in Shibpur (North Andaman), which will fur

Investments worth Rs 10K cr in pipeline for Andaman and Nicobar: Minister

The central government has pumped in Rs 30,000 crore for the development of Andaman and Nicobar Islands over the last eight years, and investments of over Rs 10,000 crore are in the pipeline, Union Minister L Murugan said. He said a trans-shipment hub, a greenfield international airport, a township and a diesel/solar power plant have been planned as part of the proposed mega infrastructure project on the Great Nicobar Island. "In the last eight years, our government has invested more than Rs 30,000 crore for development of the islands, and as you all know investments worth Rs 10,000 crore are in the pipeline. This will not only generate a lot of employment opportunities for the local youths, but also boost the economy of this place," he said. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to the development of Andaman and Nicobar Islands," Murugan, the MoS for Information & Broadcasting, told reporters on Sunday. The minister expressed satisfaction over ...

Rs 10,000 crore investment in pipeline for Andaman & Nicobar: Minister

The government has invested Rs 30,000 crore in the last eight years in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and investments of over Rs 10,000 crore are in the pipeline, Union Minister L Murugan said on Sunday. Addressing a press conference here, Murugan said a transshipment hub, a greenfield international airport, a township and a diesel/solar power plant have been planned as part of the proposed mega infrastructure project on the Great Nicobar Island. "In the last eight years, our government has invested more than Rs 30,000 crore for the development of the islands, and as you all know investments worth Rs 10,000 crore are in the pipeline. This will not only generate a lot of employment opportunities for the local youths, but will also boost the economy of this place," he said. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to the development of Andaman and Nicobar Islands," said Murugan, the MoS for Information & Broadcasting. The minister expressed ...

United Nations urges rescue of 190 refugees adrift in Andaman Sea

Reports indicate that they have been at sea in dire conditions for a month, lacking sufficient food or water, and with no efforts from any States in the region to help

Sea-borne Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh believed adrift in Andaman Sea

Nearly 160 Rohingya refugees who have fled from camps in Bangladesh are now believed adrift in the Andaman Sea as their boat's engine broke down. One of the refugees managed to contact the Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (RHRI) and give the coordinates which showed the ship drifting southeast of the Andaman Islands towards Aceh in Indonesia. Since the contact was made on Wednesday, we have no news of where they have drifted We have appealed to all agencies working with such sea-borne refugees to try and help these people, RHRI Director Sabber Kyaw Min told PTI over the phone. However, RHRI's statement could not be independently verified by either the Indian Coast Guard or Unified Andamans & Nicobar Command. The Command's spokesperson said through WhatsApp: We have no information. From the location given by RHRI, it appears that the Rohingya boat is outside Indian waters. The refugees are mostly women and children, who number 120, and 40 adult men, said Min on Friday. The Rohing

5 more states likely to merge with national single window system by Dec 15

Five more states and union territories -- Haryana, Andaman and Nicobar, Tripura, Jharkhand, and Arunachal Pradesh) -- are likely to integrate with the National Single Window System (NSWS) by December 15. The system currently accepts applications for 248 government-to-business clearance and approvals from 26 central ministries and departments, including states. So far 16 states/UTs are already onboarded, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Karnataka, the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) said in a statement on Thursday. "The teams are working with 5 more states to integrate by 15 December," it said, adding, "it is expected that the onboarding of remaining 8 ministries/departments of Government of India would happen by 31 December and the balance states/UTs by 31 March 2023." It said over 44,000 approvals have been facilitated through NSWS and over 28,000 approvals are currently under process. The system

Ambassadors blow conch shells at Andaman; India G20 presidency begins Dec 1

As India is set to assume the G20 presidency on December 1, the ambassadors and heads of missions of G20 nations on November 26 blew conch shells at the Swaraj Dweep in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Amitabh Kant, the G20 Sherpa of India, shared the video of G20 ambassadors blowing the conch shell in the Andamans on Twitter.While sharing the video on the microblogging site, Amitabh Kant said, "Embarking on our G20 Presidency with the auspicious "Shankhnaad". Blowing the Conch Shell with Ambassadors & Heads of Missions of G20 countries at the Swaraj Dweep in the Andamans."A special briefing of the resident heads of international organizations was held at Swaraj Dweep in Andaman Nicobar Islands on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release. More than 40 missions and International Organizations participated in the program.A detailed briefing was given by the G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant and Harsh Shringla, the Chief Coordinator of the G20 Summit which is .

Special briefing for G20 envoys, invitee nations held in Andaman - Nicobar

Ahead of India assuming the G20 Presidency, a special briefing of the Resident Heads of Missions of the G20 member countries, invited guest countries and International Organizations was held

Andaman's Swaraj Dweep decked up for G20 Presidency meeting today

Swaraj Dweep, popularly known as Havelock Island, in Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been decked up to host one of the much-awaited meetings of the G20 Presidency which will be held on Saturday afternoon. Spread over an area of 92.2 sq km and having a population of 5,500, Swaraj Dweep is two-and-half-hour by sea journey from Port Blair in government ferries and private cruises. As Swaraj Dweep is known for its pristine beaches, G20 India coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant organised a yoga session on Kala Patthar beach on Saturday morning for around 40 delegates from various countries. The beach is nearly 13 km from the private hotel where they are staying. The delegates, including British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis, Russian ambassador Denis Alipov, German envoy Dr P Ackermann, Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell and others reached the island around 7.30 pm on Friday after a tour of Cellular Jail in Port Blair, a senior offici

Andaman & Nicobar islands may face squalls, heavy rains on Nov 15-16

The Directorate of Disaster Management has issued heavy rainfall warning in some places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on November 15-16. All the floating, aviation and ashore units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the Navy were mobilised and put on high alert, it said, adding that these assets have been deployed in Andaman sea. Though the alert has been issued for the next five days from Sunday but on November 15 and 16, the rainfall likely to create havoc in some parts of the archipelago including, Port Blair, Campbell Bay, Kamorta and Diglipur, the department said. "Due to squally weather, wind speed exceeding 45 kmph is likely to prevail over Andaman Sea. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea in coming few days," a statement issued by the Directorate of Disaster Management said. Meanwhile, tourists were asked to stay indoor and requested not to venture into sea for adventure sports at Corbyn's Cove, Swaraj, Elephanta, Collin