Port Blair, Feb 21: Island Development Agency (IDA) an apex body under the chairmanship of Home Minister has taken forward the holistic development of the islands. IDA has mandated NITI Aayog to coordinate and provide guidance of developing holistic master plan and support infrastructure in A & N Islands.
In the first phase, four tourism projects for setting up of beach resort having 220 rooms in Long Island, 70 rooms in Smith Island, 50 rooms in Aves Island and 120 rooms in Shaheed Dweep have been identified. Land measuring 42.2 hectares in Long Island & 9.75 hectares in Shaheed Dweep is offered for a concession period of 60 years and 2.75 hectares land in Aves Island & 25 hectares land in Smith Island is offered for a concession period of 30 years.
Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) and Standing Financial Committee (SFC) in it meetings held on 07.12.2018 and 11.12.2018 respectively granted “in principle” approval for the project of Long, Aves and Smith Island. Accordingly, Request for Qualification (RFQ) was issued on 24th December, 2018 and pre –application conference was held at Port Blair on 21st January, 2019. A site visit of the potential investors was also organized during 22 – 24th January, 2019. The RFQ document and response to the pre – application clarifications are available on the website http://aniidco.and.nic.in. The last date for submission of RFQ application is 22nd February, 2019.
To provide impetus to the development of the above tourism projects, A & N Administration has identified few infrastructure projects related to the activity which are being taken up on priority like civil enclave at Shibpur airport, Diglipur, Inter-island air connectivity under UDAN scheme, up-gradation of Andaman Trunk Road including construction of bridges at Middle Strait creek and Hanspuri Strait creek, submarine fibre cable project, etc.
A & N Administration shall provide upfront Environment Clearance, CRZ clearance and bar licences for the projects. A & N Administration will also facilitate assistance in obtaining other applicable permits. Accordingly, the CRZ application for tourism projects at Long, Aves and Smith Island was considered by Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of MoEF in its meeting held on 25th January, 2019 and it is under process.
Further for the development of Industrial units, the Government of India has notified the “Lakshadweep and Andaman & NicobarIslands Industrial Development Scheme, (LANIDS) 2018 for industrial units in Lakshadweep and Andaman & NicobarIslands. The scheme will cover Union Territories of “Lakshadweep” and “Andaman & Nicobar Islands” and will be effective from 01.04.2018 and will remain in force up to 31.03.2020 with committed liabilities accrued up to 31st March 2025 for units registered up to 31.03.2020. Unless otherwise specified, all new industrial units and existing industrial units undertaking substantial expansion in manufacturing and services sectors located in the Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, will be eligible for incentives under the scheme. All eligible industrial units will be entitled to benefits under one or more components of this scheme, even if such units are getting benefits under other schemes of the Government of India. However, it shall be ensured that there is no duplicacy in the reimbursement of the same claims under different schemes. The total incentives availed by an eligible industrial unit under the scheme should not exceed the total investment in plant and machinery, subject to a maximum limit of Rs. 200.00 crores per unit. The following incentives will be provided to eligible industrial units on reimbursement basis: 1. Central Capital Investment Incentive for access to credit (CCIIAC), 2. Central Interest Incentive (CII), 3. Central Comprehensive Insurance Incentive (CCII), 4. Goods and Services Tax (GST) Reimbursement, 5. Income Tax (IT) Reimbursement, 6. Transport Incentive (TI); and 7. Employment Incentive (EI). For further details of the LANIDS Scheme please visit http://aniidco.and.nic.in.
The vision is to leverage the potential of the islands and to position them at par with international tourism and trade destinations. Holistic development of the islands will develop the local economy, provide employment and infrastructure service to the local population, in a communiqué received from Kulanand Joshi, Managing Director.