PLATINUM
JUBILEE OF LIGHT HOUSES DIRECTORATE
SHRI
THIRUNAVUKKARASAR REVIEWS WORKING
The Directorate General of Lighthouses
and Lightships (DGLL) is completing 75 years this year and it
has been decided to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the Lighthouse
Day on 21st September 2002 at Okha Light House in Jamnagar
District, Gujarat. This was announced by the Minister of State
for Shipping, Shri S.Thirunavukkarasar here today. The Minister
was speaking at a Review Meeting of the Directorate General of
Lighthouses and Lightships, he chaired.
The Minister said an allocation of
Rs.185 crore has been approved for the Tenth Plan. One of the
major schemes is to establish vessel traffic service in the Gulf
of Kuchchh at an estimated cost of Rs.165 crore for effective
management of the vessel traffic and to minimize environmental
pollution and accidents. This would be shared among the DGLL,
Gujarat Marine Port and Kandla Port Trust. Other important schemes
include vessel traffic service in the Gulf of Cambay, establishment
of number of lighthouses along the coastline of India including
Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, introduction of
the state of the art technology, international standards radio
aid to marine navigation. It is proposed to connect all the regional
offices of the lighthouses with Headquarters at Noida at a project
cost of Rs.40 lakh to enable faster decision-making and knowing
the real time position of all the aids to the navigation.
The Directorate is a subordinate
office of the Ministry of Shipping, which caters to the needs
of aids to marine navigation in and around coastal waters of India
stretching over 7000 kilometers. The term "Light Houses" includes
light vessels, sound signals, Buoys, radio aids like Decca navigator
chains, Radio Bacons, Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS)
etc. used for guidance and safe passage of ships. It provides
services in accordance with the provisions made in the Lighthouses
Act of 1927.
It is a self-supporting organisation,
deriving revenue from the light dues levied on ships entering
or leaving the Indian ports. The total revenue earned for the
last year was Rs.82 crore.
The Directorate is presently implementing
various schemes like improvement of lighthouses, indigenous development
of frequently agile Racons and automation of remote lighthouses
at a cost of Rs.104 crore. The Directorate is also establishing
new lighthouses at Vodarevu, Nizamapattnam and Kakinada on Andhra
Coast and at Menachal (Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
