(a) whether the Government has recently reviewed the development works in various islands of the country;
(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof, State-wise including the islands near Gujarat;
(c) the objectives and the benefits of this scheme to the islands and the mainland States therefrom; and
(d) the steps being taken to speed up the development work?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING
AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) To oversee the comprehensive development of Islands, an Islands Development Agency (IDA) has been constituted on 1st June, 2017 under the Chairmanship of Home Minister, Government of India. Four meetings of the IDA have been held so far.
(b) Under the initiative taken up by NITI Aayog, Site Potential Development Reports have been prepared for four islands in Andaman & Nicobar and five islands in Lakshadweep. Under Swadesh Darshan scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Tourism, three projects in Gujarat at the estimated cost of Rs. 229.28 Crore have been sanctioned.
(c) Projects for development of tourism infrastructure in identified theme-based tourist circuits across the country including islands are implemented under Swadesh Darshan scheme.
(d) The development works in Islands are being expedited with effective implementation of recommendations made by the IDA.
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