Saturday, January 22 2005 20:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Port Blair: Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today (Jan 22, 2005) said the logistics of Andaman & Nicobar islands was making it difficult to assess damages caused by the Tsunami, but an economic package, larger than the southern Indian States, would be announced for the region in three-four days.

''It is taking more time to collect information about the damages in Andaman & Nicobar because the islands are scattered. However, we will get a proposal from the local administration in next three-four days and release funds for rehabilitation immediately,'' Pawar said at the end of his two-day visit to South Andamans, Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar.

The Minister said infrastructure development in the islands would have to be entirely done by the Government and as such Andaman & Nicobar would get a bigger economic package than the southern States hit by Tsunami.

''I can assure that there will be no dearth of funds for reconstruction and long-term permanent rehabilitation. We will stand like a rock by the people of the islands,'' he said.

Announcing the packages for agriculture, fishery and tourism sectors, Pawar said he would hold a series of meetings with Union Ministers in charge of these sectors to finalise the package.

Pawar said he had seen a sizeable area of agricultural land remaining under water which had been rendered useless due to high salinity.

''We will provide expert advice and financial support to restore this land and make it worth cultivation of spices, medicinal plants, horticulture and floriculture.''

An inter-ministerial committee would submit a report to the Centre in about 10 days time to provide solutions for resurrection of agricultural activities in the islands, he said.

''We will provide food grains and allowance to farmers who have lost their standing crop to the Tsunami,'' Pawar added.

For the fishing folk, who represent a sizeable population of the islands, Pawar said a package consisting of 35 per cent subsidy and loans at the rate of five per cent with a payment period of seven years and moratorium of one-and-a-half years has been proposed.

For fishermen who used country boats for fishing, the Government would provide assistance for them to shift to mechanised fishing.

In the tourism sector, the Minister said he would discuss with the Civil Aviation Ministry, Indian Airlines and other domestic careers to provide concessions to tourists interested in visiting Andaman & Nicobar.

''Our priority and financial assistance would be for construction of jetties, small ports, helipad and small runways as also modern telecommunication system to enable tourists to come back to the beautiful islands.''

Pawar also announced that usual norms applicable for areas hit by natural calamities would be further relaxed in case of Andaman & Nicobar.