Agatti and Minicoy Islands to allow entry, exit from India

[Hindustani78]

New Delhi, Jun 22, 2015, (PTI):
Agatti and Minicoy Islands to allow entry, exit from India
Agatti and Minicoy, two small islands of Lakshadweep, have been designated as authorised transit point for entering and exiting India by the Home Ministry.


Agatti has an area of 3.84 square kms, whereas Minicoy is spread over 4.80 sq kms. Minicoy lies near one of the busiest shipping routes and is about 130 km from the northern-most island of the Maldives.

"The central government hereby designates Agatti and Minicoy Islands in Lakshadweep Union Territory as an authorised Immigration Check Post for entry into or exit from India with valid travel documents for all classes of passengers," a notification issued by the Home Ministry said.

It has also appointed Superintendent of Police (SP), Lakshadweep UT, as the "Civil Authority" for the Immigration Check Post located at Agatti and Minicoy Islands with effect from June 30, 2015, it said.

Home Ministry officials said the two new immigration check points will help easy access to ships, mainly luxury cruises, to India. "It will take less time for them to enter or exit India after their operationalisation," a ministry official said.

There are 82 Immigration Check Posts all over the country catering to international traffic. Out of these, 37 are functioning under the Bureau of Immigration, while the remaining are being managed by the state governments concerned.

In addition, there are 12 Foreigner Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) in major cities -- Delhi, Mumbai Kolkata, Chennai, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Calicut, Kochi, Trivandrum, Lucknow and Ahmedabad.

There are 11 Chief Immigration Officers in Goa, Jaipur, Gaya, Varanasi, Nagpur, Pune, Mangalore, Trichy, Coimbatore, Bagdogra and Guwahati. At remaining places, District Superintendent of Police or the prescribed authority functions as FRO to facilitate foreigners.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
11-August, 2015 13:40 IST
Immigration checkpoints in Lakshadweep

Immigration check-posts have been proposed to be set up at Agatti and Minicoy Islands of Lakshadweep for the purpose of granting immigration clearance to visiting foreign cruises and foreign tourists.

These check posts are likely to become functional by the end of the year.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary in a written reply to a question by Dr. C.Gopalakrishnan and Shri P.Nagarajan in the Lok Sabha today.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
08-November, 2017 15:20 IST
Shri Rajnath Singh chairs second meeting of Island Development Agency

IDA approves holistic development of 9 islands

Shibpur Naval Air station to be converted into Joint User Airport

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh chaired the second meeting of Island Development Agency (IDA) here today. The Island Development Agency reviewed the concept development plans and detailed master plans for holistic development of 09 islands (four in A&N Islands i.e. Smith, Ross, Long, Avis) and (five in Lakshadweep i.e. Minicoy, Bangaram, Thinnakara, Cheriyam, Suheli). The project being steered by NITI Aayog aims at promoting and implementing development based on sustainable approach to building a thriving maritime economy of the project islands.

The Union Home Minister expressed satisfaction at the progress made since its last meeting held on July 24, 2017, when directions were given to identify and execute infrastructure and connectivity projects together with provisioning of water and electricity. It was noted that site development potential reports have clearly mapped and delineated environmentally sensitive zones in the project islands and considering the unique maritime and territorial bio-diversity of the islands, enhanced connectivity has been recommended as one of the key priorities. Accordingly, it was decided that the Naval air station at Shibpur near Diglipur in northern Andaman & Nicobar Islands would be co-used as Joint User Airport.

During the meeting, it was also decided to develop a PPP package including a airport (Joint User Airport) at Minicoy Island, to unlock the tourism potential. It was agreed to promote tuna fishing industry for improving livelihoods in Lakshadweep. Union Home Minister directed all concerned to expedite implementation of ongoing key infrastructure projects in the islands and develop community based tourism in consultation with local stakeholders.

NITI Aayog was also asked to drive the formulation of PPP projects and proposed detailed guidelines to boost private sector participation.

The IDA was set up on June 01, 2017 following the Prime Minister’s review meeting for the holistic development of islands.

The meeting was attended by Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Admiral D.K. Joshi, Former Navy Chief (Vice Chairman of IDA), Cabinet Secretary Shri P. K. Sinha, CEO, NITI Aayog Shri Amitabh Kant, Union Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba, Secretary, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri C. K. Mishra and representatives of Ministries of Tourism, Power, Defence, Health, Telecommunications and Civil Aviation.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Power
28-February, 2018 19:31 IST
Lakshadweep joins “UDAY” scheme; would derive an overall net benefit of Rs 8 crore through “UDAY”

The Government of India and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Scheme Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) today, for operational turnaround of the Union Territory’s Electricity Department. An overall net benefit of approximately Rs. 8 crore would accrue to Lakshadweep by participating in UDAY, by way of cheaper funds, reduction in AT&C losses, interventions in energy efficiency, etc. during the period of turnaround and will continue in future years.

The MoU paves way for improving operational efficiency of the Electricity Department of the Union Territory (UT). Through compulsory Distribution Transformer metering, consumer indexing & GIS mapping of losses, upgrade/change transformers, smart metering of high-end consumers, feeder audit etc., AT&C losses and transmission losses would be brought down, besides eliminating the gap between cost of supply of power and realisation. The reduction in AT&C losses to 10.00 per cent is likely to bring additional revenue of around Rs. 3 crore during the period of turnaround.

Demand Side interventions in UDAY such as usage of energy-efficient LED bulbs, agricultural pumps, fans & air-conditioners and efficient industrial equipment through PAT (Perform, Achieve, Trade) would help in reducing peak load, flatten load curve and thus help in reducing energy consumption in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The gain is expected to be around Rs. 3 crore.

While efforts will be made by the Electricity Department of the Union Territory to improve their operational efficiency, and thereby reduce the cost of supply of power, the Central Government would handhold the UT Administration for improving Power infrastructure in the Union Territory and for further lowering the cost of power. The Central schemes such as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Power Sector Development Fund or such other schemes of the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) are already providing funds for improving Power Infrastructure in the Union Territory and additional/priority funding would be considered under these schemes, if the UT/Electricity Department meets the operational milestones outlined in the scheme.

The ultimate benefit of signing the MOU would go to the people of Lakshadweep. An operationally healthy DISCOM would be in a better position to supply reliable 24*7 power to the consumers, the Service Sector and Industry alike.



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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
15-May, 2018 19:48 IST
Shri Rajnath Singh reviews development projects in Union Territories

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh here today reviewed the progress of various development projects in the Union Territories. Senior officials from the UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, NCT Delhi, Lakshadweep and Puducherry briefed the Home Minister on the status of various developmental projects being implemented in their respective UTs.

Among the projects reviewed were Smart Cities Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Nutritious Food Supply to Women and Children, provision of Drinking Water & Electricity, Swachh Bharat Mission, improvement in Shipping and Road Connectivity and Tourism projects.

The Union Home Minister appreciated the progress achieved in implementation of various projects aimed at improving ease of living of people. He exhorted the officials to persevere for completion of the pending projects at the earliest keeping in view the specific requirements and constraints of each UT.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Union Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Gauba and senior officials of MHA attended the meeting.

The Union Territories are administered in accordance with Constitutional provisions by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs which is the nodal Ministry for all matters of UTs related to legislation, finance and budget, services and appointment of Lt. Governors and Administrators.

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The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh chairing a meeting to review development projects in the Union Territories, in New Delhi on May 15, 2018. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and the Union Home Secretary, Shri Rajiv Gauba are also seen.

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh chairing a meeting to review development projects in the Union Territories, in New Delhi on May 15, 2018. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and the Union Home Secretary, Shri Rajiv Gauba are also seen.

The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh chairing a meeting to review development projects in the Union Territories, in New Delhi on May 15, 2018. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and the Union Home Secretary, Shri Rajiv Gauba are also seen.