Andaman Islands to be exploited for tourism and extending India's economic and military reach

With the objective of extending India's economic and military reach, the Narendra Modi government wants to encroach into the Andaman Islands which is home to the distinct indigenous Jarawa tribe that has, till now, avoided ay contact with the outside world.
This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 27 July 2015.

The intention of the government is to accelerate development on the islands to promote its military, trade and tourism – but, preserving the pristine environment and protecting the interests of the handful of unique tribes would be difficult.
Environmental group Kalpavriksh has voiced their concerns – in their opinion, the islands are fragile, and located in a seismically active zone not far from Indonesia's Aceh coast. They are home to indigenous tribes. It is their land and their history and the impact of tourists will be detrimental. If one goes by history, the interaction between their world and the outside world has proved damaging for them.
The total population of the dark-skinned Jarawas is around 400 and one of six tribes believed to have lived on the islands for up to 55,000 years – they have, until recently, refused to have any contact with the outside world.
In spite of apprehensions, the military has started work on lengthening runways at airfields in the north and south of an archipelago – the generals believe that this is a key but long-neglected outpost to counter the Chinese navy's thrust into the Indian Ocean.
Other plans on the anvil are direct air links to Southeast Asia, an undersea cable to improve communications and a free port area. Air India is expected to begin flights between the Andaman capital Port Blair and Thailand's Phuket – to attract tourists.
Right now, tourists from Jirkatang travel in convoy with police cars at the front and back, and photography or contact with tribes is not allowed in order to protect them.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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