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HomeIndiaLakshadweep floats global tenders for high-end resorts in bid to turn islands...

Lakshadweep floats global tenders for high-end resorts in bid to turn islands into Maldives

The planned eco-tourism resorts on the three islands of Minicoy, Suheli & Kadmat have worried ecologists that opening up the islands will destroy its environment and coral ecosystem.

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New Delhi: Tourists will soon be able to enjoy the pristine natural beauty of Minicoy, Suheli and Kadmat islands in Lakshadweep, with the administration starting afresh the process to develop the Rs 806 crore high-end eco-tourism resorts in these three islands.

The Lakshadweep administration Saturday restructured and invited fresh global tenders to select bidders for developing beach and water villas, offering 370 rooms in these three islands under the public-private partnership model.

The water and beach villas in these three islands will be given to selected bidders for a period of 75 years to develop, operate and maintain. The Lakshadweep administration has obtained all the necessary clearance, including Coastal Regulation Zone and no-objection certificates from elected panchayats in the three islands, to run bars in the resorts.

In an interview with ThePrint in May, Lakshadweep administrator Praful Khoda Patel had said he wants to develop the archipelago on the lines of neighbouring Maldives, a renowned international tourist destination.

The administration had in 2019 floated global tenders to develop eco-tourism projects in these islands. But following a lukewarm response from prospective bidders, the administration of the union territory decided to withdraw the tenders, restructure them and float them again.

The projects are being backed by federal think tank Niti Aayog and the Union home ministry, in a bid to develop the remote islands.

The project has, however, drawn concern from environmentalists.


Also read: 12 BJP leaders in Lakshadweep resign over ‘unjustified’ sedition case against filmmaker


Concerns by ecologists

The international competitive bidding proposal to develop high-end tourism projects in the three islands comes amid serious concerns raised by ecologists that opening up the islands will destroy the environment and the fragile coral ecosystem of the region.

Environmentalists and scientists have, therefore, been up in arms against opening up these three islands for tourism.

In January 2020, about 114 scientists from over 30 universities and research institutes from across India had petitioned the Lakshadweep administration to reconsider the project.

The Lakshadweep administration has also been facing stringent criticism over a slew of regulations that administrator Praful Khoda Patel intends to bring to the islands to usher in development.

Lakshadweep Collector S. Asker Ali told ThePrint that the administration has adopted a scientific approach in each stage of the projects’ finalisation and necessary precautions have been taken to protect the fragile coral’s ecosystem.

“It’s an ambitious project and will create livelihood opportunities for the islanders. The successful bidder must take efforts to employ locals to the extent possible. At the same time, we are taking enough safeguards to protect the marine ecosystem,” Ali said, adding that whatever revenue the administration gets from the project will be invested in the islands for coral regeneration.

The collector also said that the administration will ensure that the carrying capacity of the three islands is not disturbed. The rooms in each of the islands will be developed in accordance with the carrying capacity numbers assessed by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management.

“This is the reason we are targeting the resorts at high-end tourists only. This will ensure that the islands don’t get too crowded,” Ali said.

While the resort in Minicoy will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 319 crore and will have 150 rooms, the ones in Suheli and Kadmat will be developed at a cost of Rs 247 crore and Rs 240 crore respectively, and have 110 rooms each.


Also read: Denied entry, 8 MPs give breach of privilege notice against Lakshadweep administrator


Hopeful of good response

The eco-tourism projects for the islands were first proposed by federal think tank Niti Aayog and the Union home ministry, in a bid to develop the remote islands.

At present, though approximately 5 lakh travellers visit the islands on an average every year, tourism is restricted to only government operations and an entry permit is mandatory for all tourists visiting the islands.

The Lakshadweep administration had first floated global tenders for developing eco-tourism projects in the three islands in 2019. While no bidder applied for Minicoy island, two bidders each applied for Suheli and Kadmat.

Applicants included the Taj Group, Oberoi Realty and south based Ceebros and Casino groups.

“We withdrew the tender because of the lacklustre response. But we are expecting more bidders this time. One reason is that for the first time we are giving all upfront clearance to the project proponent before construction,” Ali said.

The technical bids will be opened on 2 September.

(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)


Also read: Lakshadweep is key to India’s China strategy. Row over new rules hurts coastal security


 

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