Tourism in Andaman Islands

TMI Bureau

Port Blair, Sept 25: Tourism gives Andaman & Nicobar Islands, a chance to show itself off and raise its profile in the world. The Andaman & Nicobar archipelago has received 4,02,393 tourists, including 11,818 foreigners in 2018, while it received 4,87,229 tourists, including 15,310 foreigners in 2017. Because of its natural beauty, beaches, flora and fauna and historically-significant landmarks in around 38 inhabited islands out of the 572 islets.

The theme of this year for World Tourism Day is "Tourism and Jobs - A Better Future for All", to be observed on September 27 as World Tourism Day across the world. The Day's purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

Of course, the tourism sector provides opportunities in income generation and make up a significant proportion of both private, local, and national incomes. It will also provide jobs in the shape of hotels, bars, transport, activities, shops, and restaurants all need staffing. Tourism can provide much-needed employment for people.

But, oftentimes, most of the tourism industry is owned by big companies. They make the major profits, leaving local businesses with relatively little benefit. Sometimes, tourism becomes so focal that other forms of income-generation are neglected and an economic dependence on tourism forms. This is fine in good times, but it can leave the country vulnerable to economic ruin in the long run and can contribute to political upheaval or natural disasters.

The A&N Islands, known for its rich history and culture and just need to show off in a skillful way, which is lacking since long back, unfortunately. Especially, the growing number of buildings in the A&N Islands most of them are unplanned and violated. Despite of having natural resources available in the islands such as cane, bamboo and timber, the RCC structures are been promoted in a disastrous way.

Most of the tourists are all the way touring here to enjoy the beaches, but one of the main attractions in A&N Islands i.e. beaches are found closed at many places and stop the tourists to venture into sea beaches. Due to crocodile attacks inside and outside protection nets in the recent past at various beaches, afterwards, the authority has banned the entry into sea. No concrete arrangement is made yet to allow people to enter to sea, which leads disappointment to the tourists these days.

"In every beach a board is displaying crocodile warning, is here no place to enjoy the beach? And no proper directions or rate chart is seen to know the importance/ attractions of place". A tourist in a common conversation revealed.

Helpline number for counseling to addicts

Port Blair, Sept 25: To provide necessary clinical and counseling services to persons addicted to alcohol and substance (drugs) abuse, Department of Social Welfare has launched two helpline services with the mobile numbers 8900979165/ 8900979155. The care givers, guardians, parents, friends and the persons addicted may contact the numbers for assistance.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India has also set up a 24X7 National Toll Free Drug De-addiction Helpline Numbers 1800-11-0031 to help the victims of drug abuse, their family and society at large, a communication said here.

Time to revive ‘wells’ in A&N Islands

TMI Correspondent

Port Blair, Sept 18: Total dependency of tap water leads to extinct the ring well resources in the modern era. But, when any natural disaster like earthquake hits the islands, people use to rush to wells or ponds for whatsoever water.

Islanders can remember the 2004's earthquake, when water supply had been suspended for a couple of weeks due to pipelines damaged in tremor. People used to seek and rush to every available well in urban areas to manage the requirement of water at households. Anyhow, the PBMC and APWD supplied limited drinkable water through water tankers at different parts in urban areas during December 2004 earthquake in the A&N Islands, till the rectification of pipelines.

As per a research in South Andaman, it has come to know that during British era about 9000 wells were constructed with the provision of 10 wells to each village. After Independence also, proper maintenance continued and approved subsidies for construction new ring wells, then.

But, now after 73 years of Independence, the increase and influx of population brought the congestion state, where now, space not left even to walk two persons at one go in colonies, how come wells survive? The number of wells is now reduced to about 1600, which can be put in use and maintain by PBMC to keep them revival.

As per another research, it is also came to know through reliable sources that, the well water in urban areas in South Andaman are found unhygienic and not safe for utilities, because well aquifers through layers of rock and soil with water flowing through their small pores from under earth's surface. Consequently, due to dense population in urban areas the wells tend to produce unhygienic water.

However, under the ongoing Jal Shakti Abhiyan, if efforts are made to revival of wells in A&N Islands, partially water conservation will be come into force.