Controversy over developmental activities in Lakshadweep islands took a new turn with S Asker Ali, collector cum district magistrate and leaders of Opposition political parties contradicting each other. Collector Ali who flew down to Kochi on Thursday to brief the media was shown black flags by the CPI(M) activists demanding immediate stoppage of all developmental activities in the archipelago.
A disclosure by a top marine scientist in Kerala that sea cucumber was being smuggled out of the islands has added to the chaos. Resentment by non-BJP political parties is increasing day by day and chances of a flare up cannot be ruled out, said intelligence officials. Collector Ali said that 90 per cent of the population was with the Administrator’s initiatives to develop the islands. “It is true that the administration has ordered beef and chicken off the menu from the meals served the island’s school. This has been done to encourage the children to switch over to fish and eggs which are more protein-rich than beef and chicken,” he told reporters.”
He said the administration’s decision to demolish the sheds and buildings along the coastline was in line with the policies enacted with the sole intention of developing and beautifying the islands and atolls. “The crime rate in the islands have gone up and that was why the Goondas Act was enforced. The administration is working on setting up three hospitals in the islands and works are progressing fast,” said Collector Ali.
Dr S Mohammed Raffi, associate professor department of aquatic biology and fisheries, University of Kerala, said there was large scale smuggling of sea cucumber (a kind of marine animal) from Lakshadweep islands.
“These species, widely seen in atolls and coral reefs of Lakshadweep and Guld of Mannar find use in preparing aphrodisiac drugs in China and Japan, “ said Prof Raffi. Another marine scientist in Kochi said that the smuggling of sea cucumber from the islands was on the hike because of the premium commanded by the species in international market.
But leaders of opposition parties ranging from Congress, Muslim League and CPI(M) took to the streets on Thursday challenging the move of the administration under the pretext of development. “The demolition of buildings and sheds owned by fishermen was done without any notice. We do not want any kind of development proposed by administrator Praful Patel in these islands,” said Komala Kasim, CPI(M) leader.
Leaders said the islanders were upset because of the ban order on cow slaughter. They also fear that outsiders would be allowed to purchase land in the islands. Collector Ali said that ban on cow slaughter was in sync with the laws in rest of the country.