Lakshadweep District Collector S. Askar Ali explains Modi government’s development plans for Lakshadweep. The collector claimed that the measures were to secure the future of the islanders.
Even after 75 years of independence, internet connectivity is a big problem in Lakshadweep. Keeping in mind the overall development of Lakshadweep, the Honourable prime minster awarded a submarine optical fiber cable project of rupees 172 crores. And this will be completed by year ’23-’24. With this, online education, e-medicine, and various types of technical facilities will be available here. So that local people of the island will get new opportunities in the field of education, employment, and business.
S. Askar Ali IAS continues…
A few days ago 300 Kg Heroine with the international’s value of Rs 3000 crores and 5 AK 47 rifles and 1000 live rounds wear confiscated. Similarly, many cases of illegal smuggling of marijuana, liquor, and POCSO cases have been reported here. Crime on the island, including drug trafficking, has increased. This explains why the implementation of the Goonda Law is necessary for Lakshadweep.
Read how Under-reporting of crimes keeps the crime rate low in Lakshadweep.
Keeping in mind the internal security and the future of the youth, strict and stringent laws are needed so that the youth here are not misguided. People who have vested interests and involved in such illegal businesses are propagating misinformation against the imposition of strict laws.
Liquor licenses are for tourism purposes only. Agatti Airport will be renovated. The contract for the construction of the sea wall will be finalised within a month, he said.
A New sea route to Mangalore in addition to Cochin will reduce the navigable distance to 75 nautical miles and save the time of 9 hours. Which will also reduce the sea freight cost by 200 rupees per tonne. With regard to Agriculture and fisheries, there are 10.5 lac coconut trees on the island. And about 10.5 crores of coconuts are produced annually in the Lakshadweep Union Territory. However, till date the value addition and marketing of coconut and its produce hasn’t been developed on a commercial level due to which farmers not getting fair value of their production. The administration has taken initiative with Coconut Development Board, Coir board Cochin and NCDC to promote the value addition and processing of coconut so that the income of farmers will be doubled.
To deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, two oxygen plants are installed in Agatti and Kavaratti with the efforts of the Central government, another Oxygen plant is installed in Minicoy through CSR. Sea-facing hospitals are being constructed in Agatti, Minicoy, Androth, and Kavaratti. This is an important step towards making the Union Territory of Lakshadweep self-reliant in the field of health. There are no crises in the treatment of emergency patients. There are no problems with airlifting patients. Paperwork will be passed within five minutes. The doctors will contact a special committee for air ambulances, the collector said.
As of now electricity for the entire Lakshadweep is generated from Diesel generators which causes very adverse effects to the environment. To save the natural environment and to promote green energy, clean energy the government of India has started the process of privatisation for the production of electricity.
Food corporation of India will supply food grains to all islands directly, instead of sending to one island and gives opportunity to vested interest groups for selling them in open market while they distributing ration to the other islands. This prompted the food grain mafia to spread the misinformation campaign against Modi government.
Also read about the misinformation campaign #SaveLakshadweep or Save Civil Order in Lakshadweep?
The administration is also taking action to remove illegal encroachments in various areas of Lakshadweep. In protest of this, self-motivated propaganda is being carried out by vested interest groups.
Self-sufficiency assured in the health sector. Better health facilities will be ensured in Lakshadweep. The collector said new hospitals would be set up in Agatti, Kavaratti, and Minicoy. He also justified the eviction proceedings. The collector said that the evacuation was due to illegal encroachments in Lakshadweep. The vested interest groups are spreading slander becasue of this.
193 people were sacked from the tourism department. These are the only people who come to work during the tourism season. The collector said that they will be called again next season when the season is over.
“As many states of the country have enacted cow protection laws, a law has been introduced in the Lakshadweep on the same lines. Only those who are associated with its illegal business and those who have personal interests are propagating against this legislation”. The collector said the chicken and beef were removed from the school menu to encourage the use of fish.
He said Centre government has a package of Rs 5,000 crores allocated for the protection and development of Lakshadweep.
The administration has started continues work for the prosperity and bright future of all citizens, especially the fishermen community, women, and youth of this blessed union territory which has been left behind in the race for development from its brothers and sisters of the other Indian states and union territories. In such a situation, the people whose vested interests are hit by the administration are propagating misinformation campaigns against the administration. All citizens are requested to participate in this journey of development led by the administration.