Question : SETTING UP OF SEPARATE CHANNEL FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

(a) whether it was envisaget to set up a separate channel at 16 locations for effective communication between boat to shore and boat to boat to received emergency signals;

(b) if so, whether none of these stations have been made operational despite an expenditure of Rs.3.40 crore and passing of 4 to 8 years;

(c) if so, the reasons therefore;

(d) whether any enquiry has been conducted to find out the causes of the failure of the project: and

(e) if so, the outcome thereof?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (DR. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI)

(a) Yes, sir a programme on `Demonstration of shore to vessel communication system to coastal fishermen` was initiated in 1991. In Phase - I, it was proposed to establish 9 shore stations in 5 states. It was also proposed todistribute limited number of walkiie-talkies to fishermen. The details f the states alongwith the locations of the shore phase-I is as follows:

S.No.	Name of the State	Location of the station
1.	Andhra Pradesh	Machilipatnam, Kalingapatnam

2.	Tamil Nadu	Nagapatnam, tuticorin

3.	Karnataka	Malpe, Hannover

4.	Kerala	Neendakara, Quilandi

5.	Goa	Betul
The Government of Kerala later withdrew from the project.

Under Phase-II of the programme initiated n 1996-97, it was envisaged to set up 10 more shore stations in 4 other states and 3 Union Territories to demonstrate communication facilities for fishermen at sea. The details of the states alongwith the locations of the shore stations in phase-II is as follows:

S. No.	Name of State	Location of the station
1.	West Bengal	1. Fraserganj, South 24 Parganas Distt.	2. Shankarput,Midnapur Distt,
2.	Orissa	1.Chandiput,Ganjam Disst.	2. Paradip Port, Paradip Disst.

3.	Pondicherry	Periya-Veerampattinam

4.	Goa	Salegao, North Goa

5.	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	Marine Hill, Port Blair
6.	Maharashtra	1. Seasoon Dock, Mumbai.	2. Mirkarwada, Rtnagiri Disst.

7	Lakshadweep

The Government of Maharashtra withdrew from the project and proposed site in Lakshadweep was dropped due to operational constraints.

(b) The 7 shore stations in 4 states set up during phase-I were made operational and the dates of commissioning were as follows:

S.No.	Name of the State	Location of the station	Date of Commussioning
1.	Andhra Pradesh	Machilipatnam	31.01.1994	Kalingapatnam	29.03.1994

2.	Tamilnadu	Nagapatnam	05.06.1994	Tuticorin	10.03.1994

3.	Karnataka	Malpe	30.11.1993	Hannover	10.06.1994

4.	Goa	Betul	17.02.1995
The total cost incurred on setting up of these stations was Rs. 1.25 Crore.

The Department of ocean Development entered into MOU with respective state government, which clearly mentioned that the project was taken up by DOD as a pilot project and was promotional in nature. As per, the MOU DOD`s responsibility was limited to erection of tower and supply of walkie-talkie sets. The respective state governments were responsible for providing infrastructure for the project and to manage and maintain the equipment in a manner as described in the MOU. TheDepartment entered into an AMC for continuous maintenance and operation of the system in first year of its operation. Thereafter respective state governments were tomanage and maintain the system as per the terms of MOU.

The details of the states in Phase II alongwith the locations ofo the shore stations and their current status of functioning/implementation are as follows:

S.No. Name of State Location of the station Present Status
1. West Bengal 1.Fraserganj, South 24 Training ito fisheries personnel Parganas Distt. and selected fishermen completed. 2. Shankarpur, Midnapur Distt. In general the performance of base station and other equipment was found to be good. The State Government has prepared an estimate for carrying out and completion of the residual work. The work is expected to be completed shortly
2. Orissa 1.Chandipur, Ganjam Distt. The tower at Paradeep has collapsed 2.Paradip Port, Paradip Distt. during last super cyclone. The base station unit has been sent for certain repairs. In Chandipur the base station was found ioto be in working condition. However for complete functioning of the shore station certain repairs have to be carried out. The work is expected to be completed shortly.
3. Pondicherry Periya - Veeramparrinam The civil works for establishing the station and R.C.C. foundation for tower have been completed. The electrical work and istallation of communication tower is pending. Thereafter the station has to be commissioned after testing of all the equipment. Training oof the local fisherfolk part of the programme. The system is expected to be commissioned shortly.
4. Goa Salegao, North Goa The building for the shore station is ready. Tower has to be commissioned. Shore station equipment as also the VHF sets have to be tested. The system is expected to be commissioned shortluy.
5. A & N Islands Marine Hill, Port Blair In the Union territory of Andaman & Nicobar Island the Port Management Board has taken the responsibility for implementing this project. The Systems haaave been handed over to A&N Administration on 08.01.2001. Walkie-Talkie also been handed over to A&N Administration for distribution to fishermen.
The approx expenditure on phase-II is Rs. 2.13 crore. The total expenditure incurred under this programme is Rs. 3.38 crore.

(c),(d)&(e) The phase I of the projec was awarded to M/s Marine and Communication Electronics (MACE) Ltd., Visakhapatnam, a Public Sector undertaking of Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. As the M/s MACE has been wound up, the phase II of the project was awarded to M/s Punjab Wireless System Ltd. (PUNWIRE) during the IX th Five Year Plan period. Seven shore stations to be locate in West Bengal, Orissa, Pondicherry, Goa and Andaman Nicobar Islands were to be set up. PUNWIRA could not complete the work due to financial problems and this work has been now assigned to the Nationa Institute of Ocean technology. The society for Applied Microwave Electronics engineering and Research (SAMEER) - Centre for electromagnetics under the Ministry of Information Technology has also been engaged as a consultant. In view of these obvious reasons causing the delay, no enquiry has been conducted.

Question : SETTING UP OF SEPARATE CHANNEL FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Answer given by the minister

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