The Centre has been working on a long-term plan to make several of the A&N islands more conducive to tourism. Last year the Home Ministry revived an Island Development Agency that would coordinate infrastructure projects to aid tourism in the A&N islands as well as Lakshadweep. The ANIIDCL presented plans for the development of a premium Island Resort at Lalaji Bay, Long Island, A&N islands to an expert committee of the Environment Ministry tasked with evaluating infrastructure proposals along India’s coasts. Last month the Environment Ministry approved a new set of rules for infrastructure development along coasts that, in general, gives greater flexibility to development and infrastructure projects. When the latest CRZ rules were announced in December, environmentalists had raised concerns that the A&N—already vulnerable to soil erosion and threat of climate change—would be further susceptible to environmental challenges from infrastructure development along the coasts.

Source: The Hindu February 06, 2019 16:14 UTC