AK Singh, the lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar, talks to Aparna Sengupta & Suzanna Roy about walking the fine line between promoting tourism and maintaining the ecological balance
What makes Andaman & Nicobar stand out in island tourismIJ
We are a strategic outpost of India, 1200 km from the mainland but only 140-500 kms from Southeast Asia, two hours from Kolkata and Chennai and just one hour from Singapore and Phuket. The best way to judge its importance is by asking “What if these islands were not with IndiaIJ” The islands constitute 25 per cent of the country’s coastline and 30 per cent of the marine resources and EEZ. More than 60 per cent of world traffic passes through the waters near us, including the link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, through the Malacca Strait. So you can see the strategic significance of these islands as we move ahead into the 21st century.
You are known to be very active, straightforward and approachable. How do you see your role as lieutenant GovernorIJ
Well, having served in the Army for over 40 years, I consider this as another opportunity to serve the nation and the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As the lieutenant Governor I have two roles; one as the Administrator, and the second as the people’s representative, since we do not have an Assembly. It’s my resolve to not only provide a transparent, responsive and effective administration but also fulfil the genuine aspirations of the people.
What are the concerns regarding the marine ecologyIJ
We are very proud to say that we have 94 per cent forest cover, more than anywhere else in the world. It has been recognised by the UNESCO and we are determined to keep it this way. Our strength in these islands is that we are a multi-religious, multi-linguistic, pluralistic society living in perfect harmony. Ecology is a great strength for us even though there is severe restraint on its exploitation. There is great potential for fisheries, apart from tourism, but there will be no haste as we don’t want to reach a state which will be ecologically not sustainable.
What are the biggest challenges before youIJ
Communication and connectivity are the two biggest challenges. We are connected through the satellite but we are not connected through cables even though an undersea cable from Chennai to Southeast Asia passes near us.
We are in talks with the Department of Telecommunication, Planning Commission and the Finance Ministry to channelise the connectivity. Once that happens, it will give us immense opportunities in many spheres, including the IT industry. Then, of course, is the problem of physical connectivity—mainland to the islands, between islands and around the islands. At the moment, the bulk of traffic moves by ships. We have to slowly move it out of ships and get it into air as it is much faster.
How do you plan to improve air connectivityIJ
Nearly 200 international flights overfly Port Blair per day but none of them land here. Our focus is to change that. We have an international airport at Port Blair where shortly we will also extend night landing. We have got Air India to agree to a weekly flight from Port Blair to Car Nicobar. We are also tackling the issue of high air fares during the winter season. The middle class tourist wants to visit the islands but at the moment finds it much cheaper to get to Bangkok or Middle East. We have floated a tender to charter an aircraft and we hope that by mid 2014 that should come through. We would be able to provide weekly connectivity to Chennai and Kolkata at reasonable rates.
How do you deal with natural disasters such as cyclones and earthquakesIJ
In a year, 70-80 earthquakes happen along the Southeast Asian belt. Usually they are of low magnitude but when they are around seven or more on the Richter scale, we get alarmed. We have all heard of the tsunami and the devastation it caused. The physical scars have healed but the mental scar has been felt deep. One of my first focus on arriving here was to look at the state of preparedness. We had a national level disaster management exercise from November 20 to 22; we were able to sensitise all concerned and get early warning systems in place. This has already been tested during two recent cyclones where due to our preparedness, the loss of life was minimised and relief provided at the earliest.
What employment opportunities are being provided to localsIJ
There is a lack of private enterprise in the islands. There are limitations on what the government can offer. For the long term good of these islands, my focus is to see how I can promote the spirit of entrepreneurship but first we have to create the infrastructure. We are trying to develop key sectors such as IT, health, education, sports, fisheries and tourism.
Tell us about the tourism in the islands.
We have pristine beaches, absolutely fabulous areas that tourists can visit. The islands are great for eco-tourism and adventure tourism and let me say that a lot of people are coming here. Even the middle class wants to explore different kinds of facilities available. We are in the process of upgrading tourist facilities and activities, which will be of good standard. We are proud of the natural beauty around here so we have to ensure that it is well-maintained. Radhanagar beach on Havelock is one of the most popular but we have many more beautiful beaches. last year, we had 2.4 lakh tourists, this year the figure is increasing, we have to keep pace.
What kinds of tourists are you targettingIJ
All tourists are welcome. I urge them to please adopt these islands and keep them clean. A bulk of them goes back satisfied but we welcome suggestions for betterment. One thing people are not aware of is that tourism in the Andamans is open all through the year and not just confined to winter months. Tourists can visit us all year round.
What kind of adventure tourism is available hereIJ
There is scuba diving, deep sea diving, sea walk, kayaking and all kinds of water sports. At present, most of the activities are centred around Port Blair and Havelock but we are trying to take them to the other islands too.
The north and middle islands have great potential in this direction. There is also potential for nature walks to admire the flora and fauna.
How do you react to the recent boat tragedyIJ
This was really a very unfortunate incident. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. But let me tell you, our record in this respect is good despite very intense sea traffic. This was a private boat, which violated basic safety regulations.
We responded swiftly in our rescue efforts, that’s how we could save 28 lives. Consequent to this incident, we are carrying out a detailed safety audit by a technical team, headed by our Chief Port Administrator. All boats, both government and privately-owned, shall now be complying with strict norms. Our stress would remain on the safety of all tourists visiting us. life guards and tourist police are present at all important spots. All water sports activities operate under strict guidelines. May I reiterate that safety aspects will not be allowed to be compromised in any form. The people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have always warmly welcomed tourists and will continue to do so. We are determined to ensure their safety and well-being and enable them to enjoy their visit to our pristine islands.