Ref:-No.37/HRO/2013 Dated:03/07/2013 To The Hon’ble President, President of India Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, India – 110 004. Sub: - Request for the Re-Opening of Private Saw Mills in Andaman and Nicobar Islands-reg. Sir, The Human Rights Organization, Port Blair feel honor to submit the grievance of private timber saw mill owners of this Island for your kind perusal consideration and favorable orders. In early 70’s the Pre 42 settlers setup private timber saw mills in various Parts of Andaman and Nicobar Island and they carried out the profession of sawing and selling of timber in their locality for their livelihood by obtaining necessary license from the respective department of Andaman and Nicobar Administration. In the year 2002 in compliance of the Hon’ble Supreme court order dated 07/05/2002 in I.A. No 502 in W.P.No 202 of 1995 (Annexure – ‘A’) the Administration (through Principle chief conservator of forest)cancelled license of all private saw mills and wood based industries in this Island and are not renewed after 31st march 2003((Annexure – ‘B’). Against the closure of all private saw mills a association namely ‘ Andaman and Nicobar Small Scale Wood Based Industries Association ‘ approach the court and the Hon’ble Apex court order dated 21.11.2008 in I.A.No 2208W.P(C) in 202/1995 granted little relief and directed the Administration to make five” make Shift” saw mills on Public private Partnership (PPP) in different Islands ((Annexure – ‘C’). On the basis of verdict of Hon’ble Supreme court order a MOU( Memorandum of Understanding) was signed (Annexure – ‘D’) between the Administration and the representative of ANISSI for smooth function of ”make Shift” saw mills on Public private Partnership (PPP).After the execution of MOU, at first permission granted to set up only three (03) ”make Shift” saw mills on Public private Partnership (PPP) mode ,one unit at Diglipur and two units in South Andaman(Annexure – ‘E’). later on the ‘Andaman and Nicobar Islands Small Scale wood based Industries Association ‘ requested the then Chief Secretary ,A&N Islands for the functioning of (04)four ”make Shift” saw mills in South Andaman and one (01)in North Andaman(Annexure – ‘F’), the request was considered and orders issued to setup five (05)’make Shift’ saw mills on 31st march 2009 to establish timber works(Annexure – ‘G’) in these Islands . It is pertinent to inform that a decade back the license of 24 (units) private saw mills (List at Annexure – ‘H’) were cancelled and after the direction of Hon’ble Apex court order dated 21.11.2008 in I.A.No 2208.W.P(C) in 202/1995 the administration engaged only 05 five (units) of saw mills under ‘make shift ‘ project. The remaining 19 (nineteen) saw mills (units) were left idle and the administration has not made alternate arrangement for the livelihood of 19 cancelled saw mill owners, even they request the Administration in many occasion for re-opening of saw mills (Annexure – ‘I’) but their demand was not entertained and is yet to be settled. Considering the welfare of the settlers (saw mill owners) of these Islands the Human Rights Organization, Port Blair proposes following suggestions for consideration so that the settlers may get relief from financial hardship. The suggestions are as follows. 1. As per the MOU signed on 20th April 2009 five (05) sawmills were setup under” make Shift” units on Public private Partnership (PPP) mode and in the MOU at s/no 20 (Annexure – ‘D’) it is stated that the tenure of each unit is only for 02 (two) years and after expiry of the period the license is to be renewed. At this stage opportunity may be given to the other sawmill owners instead of extending the period of existing saw mill units on rotation basis so that every saw mill owner can able to set up sawing and selling timber mill in their locality. 2. It is brought to our notice that a quantity of 5000 Cubic meter (app) wood was issued every year to all the existing (05)sawmills setup under” make Shift” units on Public private Partnership (PPP)mode in Andaman and Nicobar Islands .The Human Rights Organization , Port Blair suggest to give permission to re-open few private saw mills and to distribute the said quantity of wood equally among the saw mills inclusive of existing (05) ”make Shift” sawmills, so that some of the mill owners of 19 cancelled private saw mills can able to come up from the present financial crisis . 3. In order to stop deforestation the license of all private mills in Andaman & Nicobar Islands were cancelled. The Human Rights Organization, respect the decision Hon’ble Supreme court by which the bionetwork of Andaman & Nicobar Island is protected but the sufferers are the settlers (19 saw mill owners).As per the recommendation of Shekhar singh commission (copy at Annexure – ‘J’) and by considering the welfare of the settlers (mill owners )permission may kindly be granted to import wood from mainland and also to re-open the private sawmills so that the machines and materials of mill owners kept unused for last ten years may be put in operation. [ At the end the Human Rights Organization, Port Blair once again requests your kindness to consider any one of the above suggestions and necessary orders may kindly be issued at an earliest please. Thanking you sir, Yours faithfully C.Saravanan General Secretary, HRO
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 14:03:35 +0000
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