Developmental Needs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI), located in the Indian Ocean, are a group of 572 islands in the south eastern part of the Bay of Bengal. These islands are situated close to Indonesia and Thailand.

ANI's strategic importance has not been fully appreciated by India from a security and economic standpoint, and environmental degradation is a major concern in ANI at present, so a greater focus on sustainable development is needed to flourish the economy of the island, as well as strengthen India's maritime capabilities.

What is the Significance of ANI for India?

• Treasure of Tribes: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to 5 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups: Great Andamanese, Jarwas, Onges, Shompens and North Sentinelese.
• Space for Maritime Partners: India's key maritime partners such as the US, Japan, Australia and France acknowledge and recognise the strategic location of the Andaman and Nicobar.
  • These islands not only provide India with a key maritime space but also carry significant potential in shaping the strategic and military dynamics of the Indian Ocean region.
• Recent Developmental Plans for ANI:
  • Japan’s Overseas Development Assistance: Japan approved a USD 265 crore grant aid for Andaman and Nicobar Islands development projects in 2021.
  • NITI Aayog’s Project for Great Nicobar: It includes an international container transhipment terminal, an airport, a power plant, and a township.
  • NITI Aayog’s Proposal for Little Andaman: The plan calls for the development of a new greenfield coastal city to compete with Singapore and Hong Kong.

What are the Challenges Related to Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

• Illegal Migration and Smuggling: Andaman and Nicobar Islands face greater challenges to their internal security through non-conventional threats such as illegal migration from littoral states of the Bay of Bengal, poaching of marine and forest resources, arms and narcotics smuggling through uninhabited islands and natural disasters.
• Unsustainable Development: Andaman and Nicobar have become a major tourist attraction, and this has resulted in many development projects being initiated in this region. While at one side it will transform the islands substantially, it would also cause loss of ecological stability.
  • Developmental activities are also impacting the coral reefs in the area, which are already under threat from warming oceans, and are of enormous ecological importance.
  • Environmentalists have also flagged the loss of mangroves on the island as a result of the development project.
• Geological Volatility: The Andaman and Nicobar island's groups lie in a seismically highly active zone. Due to this, the region is prone to a number of natural disasters.
  • For instance, in 2004 an earthquake and accompanying tsunami devastated large parts of the island chain.
    • Nicobar and Car Nicobar (northernmost Nicobar Island) lost almost one-fifth of its population and close to 90% of its mangroves.
• Geo-Political Instability: Andaman and Nicobar islands are part of the Indo-Pacific geopolitical theatre, where China is actively trying to expand its influence, potentially posing a threat to India's blue economy and maritime security.
  • The aspirations of China to register its presence in this region can be seen in Hambantota, Sri Lanka where China is in possession of Sri Lankan real estate.
• Encroachment in Tribal Space: While Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are accorded the highest level of protection by local administration, they still face numerous challenges due to encroachment into their areas in the name of development, and lack of effective rehabilitation program.

What Should be the Way Forward?

• Sustainable Island Development Framework: Infrastructure and developmental projects in Andaman and Nicobar will no doubt aid India’s strategic and maritime capabilities, but such development should not come at the cost of the exploitation of the ecosystem that the Andaman and Nicobar offers.
  • Prior to any development activity in this region, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment should be made mandatory.
  • A Sustainable Island Development framework is not only important for the Andaman and Nicobar but should also be applicable to other Indian islands as well.
• Master Plan for Community Development: The laws must be strengthened to protect indigenous communities, and a proper rehabilitation plan should be formulated to protect them during times of calamity.
  • Due to the high demand from visiting tourists, the Islands provide opportunities for the handicrafts industry. In line, India can set a template for other islands across the world by preparing a master plan for the formalising Handicraft Industries in island regions and promoting Make in India initiative.
• Developing Island Security Model: There is a need for India to invest in capacity building in maritime security and incentivize research, to develop an Island Security Model, and to equip its Navy with the latest technology to track any infiltration attempt.
• Revitalising Linking Projects: There is a need to revitalise the plan of linking the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the mainland through Submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC).
  • Submarine Cable will also assist A&N in providing cheaper and better connectivity and all of Digital India's advantages, especially in improving online education, telemedicine, banking and online trading.
• Thrust to Shipbuilding and Repair Industry: The lifeline of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is shipping operations, as most construction activities are related to it. The ship repair facilities need to be established in order to keep the shipping operations alive without any disruption.
  • The shipbuilding and repair industries will also enable India to become a junction in the Indian Ocean and developing trans-shipment ports will also facilitate trade with Southeast Asia.

Drishti Mains Question What is the strategic and economic significance of Andaman and Nicobar for India? Also discuss major environmental and geopolitical challenges related to this region.