Defunct body revived, Andamans sees hope

The high-profile IDA was set up in 1986 by Rajiv Gandhi with a mandate ‘‘to formulate policy and programmes for an ecologically sound and sustainable development of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The Planning Commission deputy chairman is its vice-chairman and at least 10 Cabinet ministers are its members.

‘‘We need to evolve innovative and ecologically sustainable ways of promoting island tourism for which there is an immense untapped potential both in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and in Lakshadweep,’’ said Vajpayee, inaugurating the meeting today.

However, the situation is precarious there as 30 per cent of its forest cover has been depleted for commercial purposes.

There is a Supreme Court order which means changing the entire paradigm of development in the islands. A PIL was filed based on a report that appeared in The Indian Express and the Supreme Court in May 2002 ordered that all felling of trees for commercial purposes be stopped, all wood-based industries phased out and encroachers evicted from the island.

Six months after the order, the administration has only begun partial implementation creating panic on the island. This forced BJP MP B.P. Ray to take the initiative to organise the IDA meeting. Ray said that he was ‘‘satisfied’’ with the outcome of the meeting. ‘‘A decision was taken to regularise the number of encroachments and land to be given to them was also taken,’’ Ray added.