Hi all,

There is lot of concern were raised for the ecological concern which
the Islands have, and I do agree with that. But today the hole
islands is on the mercy of subsidy from the mainland India. The cost
of production of electricity is around seven rupees and consumer only
pay only 2 rupees. The revenue generated in the islands is only 90
crore, which is less than ten percent of the total budget of the
islands.

I think in comparison to ecological fragility, the island is more
prone to collapse in case of no subsidy or central government
assistance. The oppurtunity exist but the islands failed to capture.
How the island is going to be sustainable in near future by utilizing
its own resources. The islands has only two option to exploit 1.
Fisheries and 2. Tourism.

These two sector has potential to generate enough revenue for the
Islands, the Andaman and Nicobar islands share same Andaman Sea,
which South East Asia has, and the SE Asia is the world's largest
fishing catch area in the world, in the scenario when world fish
catch is declining, the fisheries will evolve a major livelihood
oppurtunity in the islands, but to exploit potential, there is a huge
need to boost the post harvest infrastructure in the form of cold
chain, ice plant, etc.

The same is with the tourism industry, we can take the community
based tourism model of Fiji, and it will promote environment friendly
ecotourism along with the generation of income.

There is lot to be done for the sustainability of the islands. The
islands are abundunt in natural resources and these can be marketed
for the tourism industry in judicious way with the preservation of
these resources and ecology of the islands.

Today, allmost all the powersupply comes from diseal generators, this
need to be changed with alternative source of energy, especially OTEC
plant. A time has come to think on the Sustainability of the Islands,
which at present on the mercy of subsidy. In a natiional seminar at
Port Blair on emerging oppurtunity, these islands were termed as
parasite, but parasite in paradise. The parasite nature should be
changed by bringing the self sustainability of the islands.

regards
rahul dixit