Government to open up 100 islands for eco-tourism
The government is planning to open around 100 islands in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep for the development of eco-tourism. The project will be implemented on public private partnership (PPP) basis, Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, said on Friday, 10th August 2018. Ten islands in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep have already been taken up for development in the first phase under the Holistic Development of Islands programme.
“Now we have taken up 10 islands as the first phase of the programme; around 100 islands will be open up by the next 12 months. We invite all prospective entrepreneurs to propose projects that India can be proud of,” said Kant, while addressing the investors’ conference organised by Niti Aayog.
Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog
The government is planning to have sustainable development in the islands, than mass tourism, which may adversely affect the environment. Approvals for the proposed projects will be provided upfront to reduce risk of the investors. “Foreign tourists coming to India need not have separate permission to visit these Incredible Islands Of India,” he said
The carrying capacity of the islands will be taken into account, while implementing the projects, so that the islands will not be under burden.
“The said anchor tourism projects have been identified on government-owned land in Smith, Aves, Long, Neil & Little Andaman Islands of Andaman & Nicobar, and in Kadmat, Suheli and Minicoy islands of Lakshadweep,” narrates the official statement issued on 10th August. The statement had also said detailed land survey and demarcation of project sites, carrying capacity assessment of the project islands, coastal regulation zone (CRZ) application and pre-feasibility study have been undertaken.