Lok Sabha Debates of our MP Hamdullah Sayeed (Contd....)

Lok Sabha Debates (7)

MATTERS UNDER RULE-377: Need To Enhance The Subsidy On High Speed ... on 8 December, 2010

Title : Need to enhance the subsidy on High Speed Diesel for fishermen in Lakshadweep.

SHRI HAMDULLAH SAYEED (LAKSHADWEEP):         I would like to draw the attention of the Government that fishery is the main source of the livlihood of the inhabitants of the Lakshadweep islands. Other job opportunities for educated youths are only available under Government Sector, which are few and due to geographic isolation and access to the mainland, there are no private sector establishments in Lakshdweep. Therfore, , 60% of the educated unemployed youths are turning to fishing. For fishing, they have to approach the Fisheries Department for High Speed Diesel oil which is being supplied to them on a higher rate than the rate at mainland and allowing a subsidy of thirty paisa per litre. This subsidy rate was fixed in 1970s when the selling prize of one litre of HSD oil was Rs. 2.70, but now the selling price is Rs. 40/-per litre. I, therefore, request and urge the Government to revise the subsidy on HSD oil immediately to ensure that the local people can explore the fisheries sector.

Lok Sabha Debates of Our MP Hamdullah Sayeed (Contd.....)

Lok Sabha Debates (6)

MATTERS UNDER RULE-377: Need To Depute A Team Of Experts To Study The ... on 29 November, 2010

Title : Need to depute a team of experts to study the causes of sea erosion in Minicoy Island and all the other Islands in Lakshadweep and to suggest remedial measures for the same.

SHRI HAMDULLAH SAYEED (LAKSHADWEEP):         I would like to draw the attention of the Government towards severe Sea Erosion continuing in Minicoy Island of Lakshadweep. The land has been washed away creating a large beach as wide as 42 metres at the Northern part of Minicoy Island separating 163 metres of land at the extreme end of the island. It created panic among the people working on the new eastern embarkation jetty. Due to powerful waves, the entire jetty was flooded with sea water which flowed up to the passenger hall. The people had to run for safety. Keeping in view the severe erosion, an immediate action is required to send an expert team to study the impact and to suggest suitable remedial measures for reclaiming and protecting the fragile land and for the safety of the inhabitants of the Minicoy Island and other islands including Androth, Kavaratti, Agatti, Kalpeni, Ameni, Kadmath, Kiltan, Chethlath and Bitra.

Lok Sabha Debates of Our MP Hamdullah Sayeed (Contd.....)

Lok Sabha Debates (5)

MATTERS UNDER RULE-377: Need To Trace Missing Ships M.V. Rezzak, M. V. ... on 19 August, 2010

Title: Need to trace missing ships M.V. Rezzak, M. V. Jupiter 6 and M.T. Fantasy-I with seamen from Minicoy Islands aboard-laid.

SHRI HAMDULLAH SAYEED (LAKSHADWEEP): I would like to draw the kind attention of the Government towards a Cargo ship M.V. Rezzak carrying steel billets from Russia to Turkey alongwith 25 Indian crew aboard missing since 18 February, 2008.  This ship belonged to the mini island of Minicoy.  Two years back also, a ship named M.V. JUPITER 6 also went missing with 4 Minicoy seamen among others on board.  During the month of 2009 another ship named M.T. FANTASY I  was also reported missing on board with seamen from Minicoy.  There is feeling among the islanders that because of its remoteness and smallness these tragedies have failed to evoke the sympathy, response and reaction from the authority. There has been no effective search conducted for the missing ships and no hectic operations conducted through the diplomatic channels.  There has been no action to compensate the bereaving families.

          I would request the Central Government to dispel this impression of the islanders and respond positively by taking immediate action for a proper search and rescue operation by the Turkish and Russian Coast Guard using the International diplomatic channels.  It should also be ascertained as to how a ship could sink without transmitting distress signal and without any debris being found and how the ships manned by crew recruited by the same agency viz.  CMR Shipping Management Mumbai went missing and what was the role of shipping agency and whether there is an involvement of international mafia in the missing of ships for claiming huge insurance money or it is an act of Pirates. I would request the Central Government to take immediate action to announce an interim compensation of Rs. 10 Lakhs to the families of each of the seamen as they were all very young, married and sole bread-earners of their families.       

Lok Sabha Debates of our MP Hamdullah Sayeed (Contd....)

Lok Sabha Debates (4)

SPECIAL MENTION: Need To Restore Flights Between Lakshadweep And ... on 13 August, 2010

Title: Need to restore flights between Lakshadweep and Kerala.

SHRI HAMDULLAH SAYEED (LAKSHADWEEP):         Respected Madam, I would like to draw the attention of the House to the discontinuation of  Air India flight which flies between Lakshadweep and Kerala.  It has caused a great inconvenience to the local islanders.  This flight service to Lakshadweep was started way back in 1987. Since then, it has been 23 years of the inception of the erstwhile Indian Airlines service between Kerala and Lakshadweep.  But it has now been discontinued.  When enquired from the competent authority, they said that Air India has incurred a loss of Rs.4000 crore.  But the loss that has been incurred by Air India in Lakshadweep-Kerala sector is hardly Rs.7 crore which is not even one per cent of the total losses that have been incurred by Air India.  The flight between Lakshadweep and Kerala  which has been provided by Air India was only a 16-seater beach craft. It can accommodate only 16 passengers at a time.  But in the case of a private airline, the Kingfisher Airlines which is flying in the same sector, it  has a craft with carrying capacity of 72 passengers at a time.  When Kingfisher Airlines which is a private airlines even after incurring losses has not discontinued or stopped the flight, I fail to understand why on earth the Air India which is the sole national carrier has discontinued and stopped the flight service in this sector.  Not only that, Lakshadweep has been granted the status of Scheduled Tribe under Schedule V of the Constitution on account of its geographical isolation from the mainland. 

          Therefore, I would request that taking all these circumstances into account, the Government should immediately re-start the flight service between Lakshadweep and Kerala.