Visit: www.andamanchronicle.net The Daily Diary of the IslandsChronicle

VOL. : IX ::: ISSUE : 100 PORT BLAIR, MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015 RNI REGN. NO. ANDENG/2006/19155 ::: PAGES : 6 ::: RS.3/-

Treas ured Islands - SunitaRao. Courtesy: Kalpavriksh,ANET (MCBT)

Khoda pahar, nikla chooha... Watchman ko Suspendkar diya Swimming PoolDeath Case mein ... ??

-A Citizen

People’s Voice

Jarawa Facts

Your Nature Guide

It is illegal for outsiders to enterthe Jaraw a reserve. How everw ith lack of aw areness amongthe sett ler community andintrusion of foreign poachers,poaching continues.

Som e Im portant Us es ofFore sts:The insects, bats and birds ofthe rain forests are impor tantf or pollination and seeddispersal. Without them re-grow th of forest w ould not takeplace.Rain f orests are home to tribalsoc ieties , culture andtechnology including traditionalknow ledge of the forests.Food like w ild fruits, honey, andspices all come from the rainforests. The w ild relatives of manycultivated tropical crops live inthe rain fores ts. The w ildrelatives of many cult ivatedcultural crops live in the rainforest. They are useful in plantbreeding programmes neededfor crop improvement. Eg. Junglisupari is a w ild variety of thecultivated one.Rain f ores ts provide us w ithcanes , bamboos , and grassesw hich are useful in makinghomes and other structures.Rainfores ts prov ide us w ithmany kinds of w ood for variouspurposes.

Port Blair, April 19: Within24 Hrs of the fire accidentthat took place at Safa iKaramchari Colony,Delanipur on Friday,arrangements were made bythe UT Adminis tration togrant financial assistance tothe victims. The Member ofParliament, SouthAndaman DeputyCommissioner, VK Bidhuri,Assis tant DivisionMagis trate, Amit KumarPamasi and Councilor,Ward no. 3. K Ganeshanhanded over the cheques tothe victims amounting to atotal of Rs 13,00 ,300/- onthe occasion. The Tehsildar,Mr Mohammad andPatwari, Mr Sushil werealso present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, theChairperson, PBMC Shri M.

Financial Assistance Grantedto Fire Victims in a Record Time

Arumugam along with theSecretary, Shri Rakesh Baliand other officia ls of theCouncil had also visited thefire victims of AmbedkarColony, Delanipur. TheChairperson inspected thes ite and met the familymembers of the fire victimsand assured every possiblehelp from his end. Further, heordered the officials to take

necessary arrangementsfor the construction oftemporary sheds for thefire victims at the earliest.

Arrangements have alsobeen made for lodgingand food for the victims atMultipurpose DelanipurCommunity Hall , Ratri

Niwas and DelanipurLodging House. Shri K.Ganeshan, Councillor,Ward No. 3 has expressedgratitude to the Lt. Governorfor the timely grant ofassis tance for the firevictims.

Port Blair, Apr 19: TheSports Authority of India,Neta ji Subhas EasternCentre, Kolkata hasplaced one of its sta ff ShriRupak Biswas , MTS(Watchman on temporarybasis ) posted at SAI,Specia l Area GamesCentre, Port Blair, undersuspension withimmediate effect. Adisciplinary proceedinghas a lso been

Death at Andaman’s Swimming Pool:SAI Suspends Watchman

contemplated against him.The sa id Shri RupakBiswas, MTS (Watchman ontemporary basis) was one ofthe SAI staff who was alsoinvolved in the tragicincident which took place inthe Swimming Pool, NetajiStadium, Port Blair in whicha 13 year boy lost his life, acommunication from theCentre Incharge, SAI SAGCentre, Port Blair sa id heretoday.

Port Blair, April 19 : Former Director, AdditionalCommissioner, Transport, Shri Basu Kumar will now beacting as the Advisor to the Tribal Organisations basedin Centra l Nicobars. Shri Basu Kumar has joined as theAdvisor w.e.f. 1st of April 2015. The Organisations tobenefit include Tribal Development Cooperative SocietyLtd., Nicobar Indigenous Peoples Organisation, NicobarYouth Association, Nicobar Chamber of Commerce &Industry among others.

During his career of about 40 years in the Andaman &Nicobar Administration, Shri Basu Kumar has heldvarious important pos itions including the post ofSecretary, Port Blair Municipal Council, Registrar ofCooperative Societies , Director, Civil Supplies &Consumer Affa irs , Addl. Secy. Revenue, DisasterManagement and Relief & Rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, the Tribal Council of Nancowrie has hailedthe decision of Shri Basu Kumar and hoped that hisjoining as the Advisor will go a long way in upliftmentof the tribal community in the Central Nicobars.

Basu Kumar Joins asAdvisor to Tribal Organisations

Port Blair, Apr 19: The Lt.Governor has delegated theauthority for issue of freebus passes to persons withdisabilities to theDirectorate of Social Welfarewith immediate effect undersingle window system. Inview of this, all the personswith disabilities who are

Port Blair, April 19: TheDistrict Adminis trationin its endeavors toprovide better, effectiveand hassle free services tothe General Public hasnow introduced a modusoperandi forsimplification of presentprocedure for seekingpermiss ion for transfer ofinterest over the land(Sale/gift permiss ion)and getting the land sub-divided as per theacquisition of interest.

Henceforth , everydesirous tenant caneffortlessly get their landsub-divided as peracquis ition of interest

District Administration toSimplify Sub-Division and Land

Transfer Proceduresover the land and seeknecessary permission fortransfer of interest over theland by simply following thebelow:-

1. Transfer of Interest overnon-agricultura l land(Sale/gift permission).

An application duly filledin the requis ite formata longwith followingdocuments to be submittedto the central dairy of theDistrict office for seekingnecessary permission.

• Application form dulyfilled.

• Latest record of right andsketch map duly

Social Welfare Given Powerto Issue Free Bus Passes to

Physically Challengedholding valid disabilityidentity card have beenadvised to contact any of theofficers viz. Director (SW),Programme Officer (ICDS),Assistant Commissioners ofNancowry, Campbell Bay,CDPO (Car Nicobar), CDPO(Rangat), CDPO (Diglipur),

Continued on P4 Cont inued on P4

2 : : : Andaman Chronicle : : : Por t Blair Monday, Apri l 20, 2015

ANDAMANChronicleVol: IX ::: Issue: 100 Monday, April 20, 2015

Moody’s revision just a first stepRating agency Moody’s recently revised India’s

sovereign rating outlook to ‘positive’ from ‘stable’.The agency cited “recent measures to addressinflation, keep external balances in check, simplifythe regulatory regime for investors, increase foreigndirect investment, and facilitate infrastructuredevelopment” to explain the move. Even as it didso, the agency refused to upgrade the rating itself,which at Baa3, is only one notch above junk orspeculative grade rating. As of March 2015, thereare 10 US Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) approved NRSROs or Nationally RecognisedStatistical Rating Organisations in the US. Despitethis, and in spite of their many missteps over theyears, the number of rating agencies which matteralways defaults to the troika of Moody’s, Standardand Poor’s, and Fitch. It is interesting to note thatall three agencies have retained India’s sovereignrating at the lowest investment grade — i.e. onenotch above junk. Apart from Moody’s, the othertwo also have their outlook for India at ‘stable’,one level less than Moody’s.

While revising the outlook, Moody’s sovereignrating analyst would only say that “...Over the next12-18 months, if things continue to improve, therating level might also go up. It is likely that there’sa greater chance of the rating going up than stayingthe same or going down.” In its release, Moody’slisted the circumstances under which the ratingwould be upgraded, “Evidence over the comingmonths that policymakers are likely to be successfulin their efforts to introduce growth-enhancing andgrowth-stabilising economic and institutionalreforms would lead to the rating being consideredfor an upgrade.” It, however, came with a caveat.The agency said the outlook itself would be reviseddownwards if “economic, fiscal and institutionalstrengthening appeared unlikely, or bankingsystem metrics remained weak, or balance ofpayments risks rose”.

In their economic outlooks released recently, theWorld Bank and the IMF have both projectedIndia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth toexceed that of China this financial year by growingat 7.5 per cent. By extension, that means Indiawould soon be the world’s fastest growing majoreconomy. OECD, the influential Paris-based think-tank, has also projected India to grow at 7.4 percent this fiscal. Even making allowances for India’seconomic weaknesses, particularly the long-awaited revival of the investment cycle, and poorbanking system metrics, it’s disheartening to seethe world’s fastest growing economy having thelowest investment grade rating. Hopefully, thiswould soon change once the NDA governmentconstantly engages the rating agencies andaddresses their misgivings.

“Nature is an unlimited broadcasting station,through which Godspeaks to us every hour, if we only will tune in.”

-George Washington Carver (1864-1943)

Your Week Ahead

Kitchen Corner

Aries: If it seems like you've done nothing but rush around lately, this week brings the chance tocatch your breath. After all the razzamatazz and excitement, pause and assess your progress.You'll also need to think about money and other resources, such as talents, information, andanything else necessary to get ahead and how you might make use them. If you stil l want tocommit, make April 18 the day you decide you'l l stick with a plan or new relationship no matterwhat.Taurus: It's time to turn inspiration into perspiration - take that bright idea and run with it. In thisrespect, Mercury's move into your sign primes your ability to plan and research your options. Butthere's no rush. Allow whatever you have in mind to grow organically and you won't go far wrong.Don't force anything, but do take advantage of a wave of enthusiasm on Thursday to make a start.Meanwhile, a romantic dream can come true over the weekend.Gemini:Have you been finding it hard to get through to someone? If so, this issue could come toa head around Tuesday, when the person in question may seem at their most stubborn. Don't askfor any favors at this time, whoever it is, as you might receive short shrift. The New Moon in Ariescan pave the way for a new beginning. This may be your opportunity to meet the person halfway.The weekend is great for movies, fun, and chill ing out in general.Cancer: With Jupiter forging ahead in your money zone, delays in receiving cash and other formsof abundance should soon come to an end. Those seeds you planted a while ago will begin tosprout, bringing the potential for greater income for you. You can also increase your chances ofattracting golden opportunities by networking regularly, whether you're looking for new friends orsomething more romantic. Begin a key goal on Saturday, when the New Moon in Aries can helpyou get a head start.Leo: There's plenty of potential for fun and drama in your l ife, particularly if you're will ing to moveoutside your comfort zone. There's also a push to succeed in your career, which you can benefitfrom by slowing down and considering what you really want. It's worth spending time doing this,as the climate is right for you to succeed so long as you're heading in the right direction. A moresensitive influence over the weekend can spotlight some romantic possibilities.Vigro: The urgency around money matters may die down this week, leaving you feeling lessanxious yet even more motivated to increase your earning potential. One way of doing this mightbe to upgrade your skil l set by taking a course or class. If you're driven to increase your knowledge,this is the time to go for it. On Saturday you'l l be confident enough to move in the direction of yourdreams, as an optimistic influence pushes you to move outside your comfort zone.Libra: If you're eager to get your money working harder for you, the current alignment suggests thatputting in the effort now can bring good returns further down the line. You can do even better ifyou're will ing to ask for advice from someone with experience. The New Moon in Aries brings anopportunity to take a relationship to a new level. Whether you're in a budding romance orconsidering a business partnership, this is the time to go for it.Scorpio: Mercury's move into Taurus brings an opportunity to clear the air, discuss your priorities,or find a compromise in a difficult situation. You'll find your interactions have a soothing, beneficialeffect on you. Even if you can't agree on something, the earthy qualities of this week's blend ofenergies can act as a balm to your soul. If your intense feelings have complicated matters, you'l lfind the common sense solutions that show up this week to be a revelation.Sagittarius: A Venus/Saturn connection could leave you feeling out in the cold early this week.But because the aspect is temporary, things between you and another can quickly improve. AsMercury glides into Taurus it pays to nurture your mind and body by getting enough sleep, eatingthe right foods, and exercising regularly. If you've been busy, think about indulging in a spa day ormassage. You are your own best resource, so it certainly pays to invest in your well-being.Capricorn: The likelihood of romance is high as Mars continues its journey through sensuousTaurus. If you're in the dating loop, you'l l have the most luck when you seek out others who shareyour love of the good things in l ife - people who enjoy gourmet food, excel at business, and lovethe same cultural activities. Saturday's New Moon in Aries can be a catalyst for change on thehome front. If you have a plan, that's the day to put it into action.Aquarius: A love tryst could seem to turn a little sour on Tuesday. Try not to take it personally.There's a good chance your sweetheart has issues that have nothing to do with you. As it's onlytemporary, you'l l soon be back on good terms. Are you in a long-term relationship? You may beeager to sort out home-based projects. Saturday could be your best bet, as a potent transit deliversthe energy and enthusiasm to get things off to a great start.Pisces: With Venus now in Gemini, it's technically a great time to entertain at home and makefamily and friends feel welcome. The only exception to this could be Tuesday, when an edgyconnection could throw a monkey wrench in the works. The weekend looks like perfect partymaterial if you're hoping to celebrate. It's also excellent for a date with a romantic theme. If youwant to impress or give your sweetheart special treat, this is the time to go for it.

Liver MasalaIngredients500 gm liver2 medium-sized onions2 tbsp ginger garlic paste1 tsp red chilli paste1 tsp cumin seeds paste1 tbsp sugar1 tbsp vinegarcoriander leaves (chopped)4 tbsp oilsalt to tasteMethod :Boil the liver in salted w ater till it is almosttender.Drain out the w ater and cut into thin longslices.Rub the liver pieces w ith the pastes andkeep aside.Peel and slice the onions into thin pieces.Heat the oil in a kadhai and saute the onionstill they turn light brow n.

Low er the heat and put the liver pieces,chopped coriander leaves, vinegar and thesugar.Also mix in 3 tbsp w ater.Cover w ith a lid and cook for another 5minutes till the w ater evaporates. Ready toserve

3 : : : Andaman Chronicle ::: Por t Blair Monday, Apri l 20, 2015

Health, Science /Tech

ENTERTAINMENTArjun, Sonam and

Kareena dazzle in one frame

New species of gecko found

Apr Mumbai:Bollywood celebrities sureknow how to rock a selfie!Present at a recent event,the Kapoor clan gottogether in one stunningframe.

What’s more? Theyposted these gorgeousselfies on their respectiveaccounts and drove theirfans crazy.

Although being a selfiequeen Sonam Kapoor getsher glam on in the picture,what caught our eyes wasthe effortless style of our‘Begum’ Kareena Kapoor.All three were spottedgracing an awards

function in Delhi last night(April 18). Kareena is seendonning green gown andwe can’t take our eyes offSonam’s amazing‘ jhumkas’ . Sonam has

many films lined up forrelease this year whileKareena on the other handwill soon be seen sharingscreen space with AkshayKumar in ‘Gabbar is Back’.

Apr 19: Mumbai: Therehas been a strong buzzthat Farhan Akhtar would

Farhan Akhtar refutesstarring in Nitya Mehra’s next

feature in Nitya Mehra’sforthcoming film a longwith Sidharth Malhotra

and Katrina Kaif. Nityawho has assisted Farhan inthe fi lm ‘Don’ and‘Lakshya, will turn directorwith this one. But Farhantook Twitter to clarify thatit’s false news.

Nitya ’s film will be co-produced by Farhan andKaran Johar’s DharmaProduction. The actor hashis hands full with twoBollywood projects and hismusic concerts. He will bestarring in ‘Dil DhadakneDo’ and ‘Wazir’ . He willsoon s tart shooting forRahul Dholakia’s ‘Raees’and ‘Rock On 2’.

Apr 19 : Mumbai:Hrithik Roshan has beenshuffling between shootsand is equally spendingquality time with his twoadorable sons.

The actor who iscurrently busy shooting‘Mohenjo Daro’ in Bhuj,a ttended a partyyesterday.

Hrithik looked dapper inall purple suit teamed upwith black tee. We cannotthink of any other celebritywho could have pulled offthe colour purple withelan. The s imilar outfit

The Roshan boys lookadorable in colour coordinated outfits

was ta ilored for his twoboys- Hridhaan andHrhaan. We couldn’t getour eyes off the Roshanboys.

Reportedly, the actorplans on moving into hisnew home by the month ofJune this year.

The actor has been livingin his parents’ home andwill soon shift to his newsea-facing home in Juhu.

The apartment is not yetready, but Hrithik has beenco-ordinating with theinterior designer despitehis busy schedule.

Hyderabad, April 19: A new species of the day gecko,a type of lizard usually found in warm climates, hasbeen spotted at the ruins of the World Heritage Site ofHampi in Karnataka. The gecko has been namedCnemaspis adii after a young herpetology researcherfrom Hyderabad, Aditya Srinivasulu.

The discovery of the gecko and its name werepublished in the journal Zootaxa this month byresearchers Chelmala Srinivasulu, G. Chethan Kumarand Bhargavi Srinivasulu from the zoology wing ofOsmania University in Hyderabad.

The lizard belongs to the family of day geckoscharacterised by round pupils unlike regular geckoswhich have vertical pupils. The zoologists say Hampiand surrounding areas are potentia lly rich inbiodivers ity and not much research has been done toidentify new species of smaller vertebrate andinvertebrates.

“The discovery is significant because other speciesof day geckos have been, so far, reported only from theWestern Ghats and southern Eastern Ghats inpeninsular India. This is the first time that day geckoshave been found in the central regions of peninsularIndia between Eastern and Western Ghats ,” leadauthor Dr. Srinivasulu said.

The trio felt that presence of day geckos betweenWestern and Eastern Ghats is interesting, indicatingthe need for more efforts to document the biologicaldiversity, understanding habitat conditions, threatsand diversity of local species.

The discovery and subsequent validation in Zootaxadid not happen overnight. The new day gecko specieswas first discovered by Dr. Bhargavi Srinivasulu in2012 while they were doing research on bats in theHampi complex.

Later, the zoologists studied the photographs of liveanimals and researched on known species of daygeckos reported from other parts of India, whichultimately confirmed that the specimens belonged to ahitherto undescribed type. They managed to collectthree specimens of the lizard that formed the basis ofthe scientific description of the lizard.

4 : : : Andaman Chronicle : : : Por t Blair Monday, Apri l 20, 2015

New Delhi, April 19 :“Some people havedecided not to speak, seeor hear anything goodabout our government.”

Prime Minis terNarendra Modi onSunday attacked theopposition for trying toproject the government asanti-poor on the issue ofland acquis ition Bill.

“Lies are being spreadon land Bill by “pervertedminds”. Some people havedecided not to speak, seeor hear anything goodabout our government,”Mr. Modi said.

Addressing MPs of theBharatiya Janata Party,Mr. Modi also spoke aboutIndia ’s success in therescue process during the

Modi: Perverted mindsspreading lies on land Bill

Yemen crisis and laudedMinisters Sushma Swara jand V.K. Singh for theirefforts. The Prime Ministersaid he “salutes” Mr. Singhfor the unprecedented

achievement.Mr. Modiexpressed confidence thatthe second part of budgetsess ion beginning onMonday will be veryproductive.

Visakhapatnam, April19 : Veteran leaders V.S.A c h u t h a n a n d a n ,Buddhadeb Bhattacharyaand Nirupam Sen weredropped from the CentralCommittee.

Ra jya Sabha memberSitaram Yechury onSunday was elected as thenext genera l secretary of

Yechury elected newCPI(M) general secretary

Communist Party of India(Marxist).

Mr. Yechury is the fifthgeneral secretary of the 50-year-old party.

Earlier, veteran leadersV.S. Achuthanandan,Buddhadeb Bhattacharyaand Nirupam Sen weredropped from the CentralCommittee.

Lucknow, April 19: Witharound 12 lakh farmers inover 60 districts of UttarPradesh affected by theunseasonal ra ins andhailstorms, U.P. RevenueMinis ter Shivpal SinghYadav has appealed to theMinisters, MLAs and MPsto donate their onemonth’s salary to the ChiefMinister’s Relief Fund.

“Several dis tricts havebeen declared as ca lamityhit and the State is doingits best to provide relief tothe distressed farmers ,”Mr. Yadav sa id onSaturday. The Minis terhas directed Dis trictMagistrates to ensure thatinsurance and bankofficia ls a long withofficia ls from Agriculture

State doing its best forfarmers: U.P. Minister

and Revenue departmentsare included in the team toassess the crop damage.

Blames CentreThe Minis ter blamed the

Centre for reneging on itsassurance to providefinancial aid. While the State

government has given Rs.5 lakh each to the next ofthe kin of the farmers whohave died in the naturalca lamity, the Centre’sshare of Rs. 1.5 lakh wasstill being awaited, he said.

New Delhi, April 19: Inhis first publicappearance s incereturning from nearly twomonths of leave, Congressvice-pres ident RahulGandhi met farmers fromdifferent north IndianStates in his house here onSaturday. The meetingwas a part of the a ttemptsby the Congress to bringpublic attention back to itsanti-Land Bill agita tion,ahead of its much-toutedfarmers’ rally a t RamlilaMaidan on Sunday.

The party flaunted a fullhouse, with a number ofsenior and mid-rung

‘Congress will put up a united front’leaders, at the launch of awebsite, zameenwapsi.com,at the AICC headquarters.The website was launched byparty leaders A.K. Antony,Digvijaya Singh and JairamRamesh in the presence ofleaders including RandeepSurjewala, R.P.N. Singh andRita Bahuguna Joshi.

A source close to Mr.Gandhi sa id the Congresswas keen on focussing thepeople’s a ttention on theagitation against the NDA’sland ordinance rather thanon infighting within the partyor the vice-pres ident’sprotracted absence. He saidthe party would showcase a

united front at the rally onSunday.

Leadership issueIn an interview to The

Hindu on March 27 ,Deputy Leader of theCongress in the Lok Sabha,Capt. Former MinisterMilind Deora tweeted onFriday that the partyshould value experienceand welcome generationalchange. Mr. Deora, a closeassociate of Mr. Gandhi,tried to tread the middlepath at a time when theparty has been perceivedas divided between the oldguard res is ting changeand the young leaderspressing for it.

authenticated by the areapatwari.

• Affidavit duly sworn inby the recorded tenant.

• Valid No dues and nonencumbrance certificateobta ined from therespective Tehsildar.

Timeline: - 07 workingdays by which the revenuecase would be disposed off.

Sub-Division of land: Ajoint application by all theco-tenants alongwith thefollowing documents to besubmitted to the centra ldiary of the District officefor a llowing sub-divisionof land as per acquisitionof interest.

• Latest record of right andsketch map of the proposedland duly authenticated bythe area Patwari.

• Copy of sale deed/anyinstrument duly certifyingthe share of the tenants.

• Surrender certifica teissued by the concernedTehsildar for commonutility services as per thenotified Master Plan.

• Proposal map withmeasurement dulyconsented by a ll the co-tenants.

Timeline: - 10 workingdays by which the revenuecase would be disposed off.

District Administration toSimplify Sub-Division and Land

Transfer ProceduresContinued from Page 1

CDPO (Ferrargunj) andCDPO (UP) for getting theirbus passes affixed in thedisability identity card.

Henceforth , the buspasses will be issued along

with the renewal or issuanceof fresh disability identitycard. The validity period ofbus passes would be assame as that of disabilityidentity card.

Social Welfare Given Power toIssue Free Bus Passes to

Physically ChallengedContinued from Page 1

Port Blair, April 19 :Andaman & NicobarCommand along withDirectorate of HealthServices shall beconducting a MultiSpecialty Health camp inthe Hard to Reach Area ofPaschim Sagar (Diglipur)on 21 Apr & CHC,Diglipur on 22 Apr 15.The camp shall be led bySurg Cdr AK Anand ChiefStaff Officer (Medica l) ofthe Andaman NicobarCommand with Dr

ANC to Conduct Multi-Speciality Health Camps atPaschim Sagar & Diglipur

Abhijeet Roy, DeputyDirector of PHS. During thecamp services ofDermatologis t, Medica lSpecia list, Eye Specia list,Radiologis t & Denta lSurgeon shall be availablefor free consulta tion andtreatment. All civilians inand around Diglipur arerequested to avail the freeservices of the specia lists atthe camp. Medicines shallbe distributed free of cost tothe patients by the loca ladministration.

For online news, Visit:www.andamanchronicle.net

Also Join Us Today on Facebook andTwitter (@AndamanNews)!

5 : : : Andaman Chronicle : : : Por t Blair Monday, Apri l 20, 2015

Genesis of theConundrum

The entire Kamorta Island,except the port area , hasbeen recognised as a tribalreserve by the Andamanand Nicobar Protection ofAboriginal TribesRegulation (ANPATR1956). The Nicobaresetuhets (extended families)have traditional ownershipof the land which isgoverned by their customsand norms. Despite havingno written documents theindigenes never had anydispute over the ownershipof the land. After theannexation to India theAndaman and NicobarIs lands were declared aunion territory in 1956. Tocontrol and secure theremote islands thegovernment requested theNicobarese leadership todonate some land to set upthe adminis trativeapparatus. The queen of theCentra l Nicobar, RaniLachmi, was reluctant topart with a piece from thelimited common land.However, a fter beingassured of infrastructuraldevelopment in the remoteislands she agreed to donatesome land uponconsultation with the villagechiefs. It was thus that theINS Kardip (33 acres) inKamorta was establishedand commissioned in 1973.

It was only post thetsunami that the Nicobareseand the defence authoritieshad a serious disagreementover the ownership of 317acres of land in Kamorta.Traditionally, theNicobarese of the nearbyvillages had plantations onthis land. Post tsunami, thegovernment constructedtemporary shelters for themon the same land and alsoplanned construction ofpermanent shelters .However, the constructionwas prevented by theobjection raised by the INSKardip which cla imedownership of the land. Itargued that an area of 109acres a t Kamorta wasallotted to the Army videRevenue Case No 3/1978,and 208 acres to the Navyvide Revenue Case No 15/1978 of the ass is tantcommiss ioner (AC),Nancowrie which wasapproved by the deputycommiss ioner (DC),Nicobar. The land washanded over to the

The Kamorta Island LandConundrum In The Central Nicobar

representatives of theArmy and INS Kardip in1978 and 1979 ,respectively by the AC,Nancowrie. Later in 1993,the Government of India/Minis try of Defencetransferred 20 acres of landfrom the Navy’s allotment(208 acres) to the CoastGuard for setting up aCoast Guard Station inKamorta.

The possess ion of theland (317 acres) washanded over only on paperand without proper landdemarcation or payment ofmonetary compensation tothe a ffected tuhets . Fordecades no infrastructurewas developed by thedefence forces on the land.It was only in January 2009that the survey team startedon the demarcation of theland. The Nicobareseremonstrated with theNavy that the land hadalways belonged to theircommunity especially theinhabitants of Sanuh,Banderkhari andChanghua villages whohad plantations on theland s ince timeimmemoria l. The triba lcouncils of the Centra lNicobar also reasoned thatthe allocation of land to thedefence authorities by theAC and the DC was nulland void as it contravenedSection 6(1) of ANPATR,1956. However, the Navyargued that the land wasdonated by the late queenwho had signed the noobjection certificate (NOC)on 25 September 1978followed by an allotmentorder issued by the DC on15 November 1978 . TheNicobarese, on the otherhand, argued that thequeen took all decis ions inconsultation with thevillage captains. The NOCdid not bear witnessesfrom the community or hercouncillors and the villagecapta ins had not heardanything concerning thedonation of 317 acres ofland to the defenceauthorities.

The tribal leaders took upthe matter with the islandadminis tration a t PortBlair. In February 2009, adelegation from thecommunity a lso went toNew Delhi and met thedefence minister, theminister of tribal a ffairsand the chairperson of theNational Commission for

Scheduled Tribes. The triballeaders were reassured thatno injustice would be done tothem and positive actionwould soon be initia ted toaddress the issue. In itscommunication with Outlookmagazine concerning theKamorta land dispute, theMinis try of Defence said,“The defence minis ter hasordered that the issues raisedby the delegation be examinedexpeditiously, because of thenature of allegations madeagainst the Navy, so that thefactual pos ition can beascerta ined.” However,despite numerousdiscussions and negotiationsin Port Blair and New Delhi,the land dispute could not beresolved and has reached animpasse. The arguments putforth by the Navy and theNicobarese whilesubstantiating their claims onthe disputed land have meriton both sides . The onlyperson whose version wouldhave been decisive was RaniLachmi who passed away in1989.

RepercussionsThe disputed land at

Kamorta has always been theancestra l property of variousNicobarese tuhets who livedin socioecological harmonyand supported the loca l civiland defence administration.The community lost almosteverything during thetsunami in 2004 . On top ofthis loss of family members,plantations , livestock,settlements and materia lequipments, large tracks ofcultivable land werepermanently inundated.Land is the most preciouspossess ion of the communitywhich is not merely alivelihood imperative but alsoholds immense spiritualvalue. The disputed land atKamorta is the joint propertyof 400 Nicobarese familiesspread across 15 villages .Their livelihood is dependenton this land and the seasurrounding it. Due to theirsociocultura l milieu, theNicobarese have a lmostnegligible opportunities foralternative livelihoods. If thisland is taken from them, alarge number of them wouldbecome landless and evenstarve.

The two Nicobarese villagesof Changhua andBanderkhari will be severelyhit as the accessibility of theNicobarese to these villageswill be obstructed once thedefence land is fenced in. The

coasta l area and the seasurrounding the disputedland is an importantcatchment area for theNicobarese where theycan safely navigate in theirhodies . With thedevelopment of defenceinfrastructure in the area,their inland and coastalmobility will be severelycurtailed and that willadversely a ffect theirlivelihood and well-being.The land dispute hasalready s trained thecordial relations betweenthe governmentapparatus and the localpopulation. Thedispossession will causeirreparable damage to themutual trust and theharmonious relations thatthe government hasdeveloped with the localpeople over a long periodof time. The lack ofcooperation from theNicobarese will derail theg o v e r n m e n t a lmodernisation drives inthese isola ted territories.Such a rigid stance couldalso jeopardise the defencemanoeuvres in theseisolated, yet s tra tegicspaces.

ConclusionsThere is no denying the

fact that the islands arestrategic and defenceestablishments arenecessary for maintainingpeace and countering anyuntoward incident orexternal threats posed tothe security of the nation.These islands are a key forthe success of India’s LookEast Policy enunciated inthe 1990s. However, thelivelihood, mobility andwell-being of 400Nicobarese familiescannot be ignored. It isbecause of their sensitivityto these concerns and faithin the government that theNicobarese, who had onceadapted themselves to thebrutal colonial regime ofJapan, have beenpeacefully expressingtheir discontent againstthe Navy. It is also worthcontemplating whetherthe de facto regime of RaniLachmi had the authorityto donate a large track ofland without consultingthe tuhets to whom itactually belonged. TheNicobarese say that theyare not in a position to partwith their land as it is theonly resource they have. It

is for the reasons mentionedabove that the Nicobareserightly compare theKamorta land dispute withthe tsunami of 2004, andcall it “the second tsunami.”It was painful and at thesame time intriguing for meto read the large number ofletters that the Nicobaresehad written to theauthorities requesting themto settle the land dispute.These letters , which theNicobarese call, “the Lettersof Sufferings” peculiarlyend with four words, “ InProtest,” and beneath it, arefollowed by two morewords , “RespectfullyYours.” While concludingthis discussion, I could nothelp thinking of an excerptfrom a letter (dated 10February 2009) of theNancowry Tribal Councilwhich is addressed to theLieutenant Governor of theIslands:

…The Tribal Councilrecognises and appreciatesthe role played by thedefence services includingthe Navy during tsunami.The Council admits thatNational security must takepriority. But in a country of110 crores , should theburden of National securitybe placed on 400 triba lfamilies alone?...

In ProtestRespectfully YoursTherefore, the Kamorta

land dispute demandsextreme caution and avis ionary approach fromthose who are in a positionto settle it. It needs a solutionwhich meets the rea listicland needs of the defenceforces and also does notundermine the well-being ofthe local population. Sucha solution would not onlysettle the disputepermanently but also restorethe harmony and mutualtrust between the defenceforces and the Nicobarese.

Author: Ajay Saini(writetoajaysaini@gmail.com)is a Doctoral ResearchFellow and TeachingAssociate (Research andDevelopment) at the TataInstitute of Social Sciences,Mumbai. This article is amodified version of adiscussion note firstpublished by Economicand Political Weekly on 21February 2015. This articlehas been republished inthe Andaman Chronicleson the demand of theNicobarese community.

Police Control Room: 100Fire Se rvice: 101Ambulance: 232120, 233437DC Control Room: 1070Shipping: 245555Postal : 232346, 232890Children: 1098Coast Guard: 1554Coastal Secur ity 1093State Control Room: 1077, 238881PBMC Control Room: 245798Kisan Call Ce ntre: 1551Wildlife Control Room: :245229, 200661, 200754

Weather

Rain/Thundershowers may occur at many places over A&N Islands.Maximum and Minimum temperature will be around 32°C and 23°C

respectively on mONday 19/04/2015

Rainf all upto 0830 Hrs (Last 24 Hrs.): 028.1 mmRainf all upto 1730 Hrs (Last 24 Hrs.): 005.3 mmTotal Rainf all: (From Jan 1, 2015 till date): 230.7 mm

Max. Temp: 32.1 0C Min.: 22.5 0CRelativ e Humidity : 0830 Hrs: 82% 1730 Hrs: 86%Sunrise: 0508 Hrs. Sunset: 1732 Hrs.

6 : : : Andaman Chronicle : : : Por t Blair Monday, Apri l 20, 2015

EDITED, PRINTED & PUBLISHED by Denis Giles. OWNER: Denis Giles. ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Zubair Ahmed Published from ‘Libra Cottage’, Brichgunj Chowk, Prothrapur, Port Blair - 744103. Printed at Libra Printers, 38/2 B.S. Road, Foreshore Road, Phoenix Bay,

Port Blair. Ph: 03192-237837 (O), 9434280443 /9732479000 (M). E-mail: editor@andamanchronicle.net, denisgiles@yahoo.com

Police Control Room: 100Fire Se rvice: 101Ambulance: 102DC Control Room: 1070Shipping: 245555Postal : 232346, 232890Children: 1098Wom en: 244701Coast Guard for 1554Search & Rescue (SAR)Coas t Guard RHQ: 232681Coastal Secur ity 1093State Control Room: 1077, 238880PBMC Control Room: 245798Kisan Call Ce ntre: 1551Wildlife Control Room: : 245229,

200661, 200754

Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs)

State Control Room: 03192- 238880(Tele-Fax),1070(Helpline).

District Control Room: 03192-238881EOC (Campbell Bay): 03193-264020EOC (Kamorta): 03193-263222

EOC (N&M): 03192-262960EOC (Hut Bay): 03192-284014

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Crucial win for Chennai FCChennai, April 19: The 2-0

victory for Chennai FC overChennai Customs in the St.Joseph’s -Chennai FootballAssociation senior divisionleague match here on Saturday,might have kept the former in thetitle hunt, but it wasn’t as easy atriumph as it might haveappeared.

After Hamza (officially calledJagaba Harng Anaba) scored theopening goal in the 13th minute,Chennai FC got as many as threechances to improve its tally inthe firs t half, but squanderedthem all.

If Chennai FC was confidence-personified in the first 45minutes, it was panic-stricken inthe second. Mis-passes and poorpossess ion marked the titlecontender’s game. Customs,which couldn’t stitch a goal-bound move, was a motivatedteam in the second, ra idingChennai FC regularly from theleft flank.

From the s idelines, RamanVijayan, Chennai FC’s chiefcoach, decided to sport the jerseymidway through the second

session in an attempt to give thefrontline some teeth. His presencedidn’t make much of a difference,though.

Tamil Arasu of Customsbrought down Hamza in the 89thminute, which resulted in apenalty. Murugappan’s shot wasbrill iantly saved by ArunPradeep, diving to his right, buthe tapped home the rebound togive Chennai FC the much-needed win.

Chennai FC has 23 points from10 matches with a match

remaining against SouthernRailway on April 27. On the otherhand, Hindustan Eagles has 22points from nine matches.

Of the two ties, Eagles have atough one against ICF on April22 (the other being againstChennai City Police on April 30).

The results : Senior div.:Chennai FC 2 (Hamza 13th &Murugappan 90th) bt ChennaiCustoms 0; I div.: Chennai CityFC 3 (Samuel Jackson 13th, 44th,Soosai Raj 48th) bt Income Tax 1(Vengadesan 46th).

Ahmedabad, April 19: EitherChennai Super Kings orRajasthan Royals will drop itsunbeaten tag in the Pepsi-IPL-8here on Sunday.

In the inaugural season, CSKwas swept aside by ShaneWarne-led Royals , los ing thehome and away matches by eightwickets and 10 runs and the titlematch by three wickets.

Dhoni’s team turned the tablesonce the league moved to SouthAfrica in 2009, and since thenCSK has scored crushing winsover Royals; some consolationfor Royals is their victories at theMotera Stadium in 2010 and atJa ipur’s Sawai MansinghStadium in 2012.

RR has been the bellwetherteam of the ongoing leaguetaking on Mumbai Indians athome and putting up impressive

Unbeaten tag atstake for CSK and RR

shows against Kings XI Punjab,Delhi Daredevils and SunrisersHyderabad.

Two last-ball finishes againstKXIP and Sunrisers reflected itsability to hold its nerve in touch-and-go affairs.

“Congrats to Rajasthan Royalsand the young Hooda, awesome!I’m glad that culture of finding away to win the tight onescontinues,”

Warne tweeted after DeepakHooda’s half-century changedthe course of the match againstDaredevils.

The Steve Smith-led team hasopened the innings with a newpair in Ajinkya Rahane and SanjuSamson and these two will be putthrough the wringer by CSK’slargely home attack comprisingAshish Nehra, Ishwar Pandey,Mohit Sharma, Ravichandran

Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja andWest Indian Dwayne Bravo.

The two-time champion hasbegun the three-away-matchitinerary on a winning notethrashing Mumbai and wouldhope for a pos itive outcomeagainst Royals here and RoyalChallengers Bangalore nextWednesday.

With several match-winners inthe l ine-up beginning withDwayne Smith, BrendonMcCullum and followed bySuresh Raina and the capta inhimself, CSK is the clear favourite.

Mentored by Rahul Dravid,Royals have their brand of game-changers in Smith, JamesFaulkner and a number ofIndians.