Ahmedabad

The Gujarat Government has formed a high level committee of secretaries to look-after the formation of New Island Development Authority. The Proposed authority will shortly start a surevy of development potential of 55 major islands in state. Recently at a high level meeting a primary regulatory framework was approved.

Out of 55 the state government will take up the development of eight inhabited islands. They include Pirotan, Dwarka, Aliyabet and other such popular destinations. A study has been initiated to do the initial mapping of the islands of Gujarat, assess and assimilate data on their current status in terms of topographic conditions, demography, vegetation, natural resources, and development potentials on the fronts in terms of tourism, commerce, residential, marine and the like.

The State Government will also study the island development of Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar and one or two international case studies like Singapore in terms of legal and institutional framework and benchmark their successful development for Gujarat’s specific island development.

The Gujarat Government had announced Rs.10 crore allocation for the proposed new authority in the state budget.

-DeshGujarat