Thread by @manishchandi

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC @StratNewsGlobal in particular, I have some edits and queries.
Edits & queries:
1. Foreigners were always allowed to Neil - Havelock for the past 2 decades..not a recent phenomenon like Nitin would think
2. The Strait (not creek) is Homfray Strait, & not 'Humphrey'

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 3. How do the Taj & Golf courses become benchmarks of development...rather than an index that reflects local area development and people/HR development?

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 4. Having tourists every where is no guarantee of stemming illegal activities. Currently it's mostly poaching of marine and other natural resources by locals and foreigners. The growth of drug abuse and sale in the Andaman has probably more than quadrupled.....contd.

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC particularly in tourist centres and villages influenced by them - data exists in Police records. Many other illegal activities, including POSCO has risen like never before-check police records. For such reasons this argument of safety net of people & countryisn't well supported.

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 5. A mid-sea transhipment at Port Meadows, yes, but how about the planned transhipment terminal at Galathea bay, where the most important leatherback sea turtle conservation beach in India is denotified? Why not at mid sea there too, to capitalise on the Malacca Strait traffic?

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 5b. The amount of investment, damage to nature and eventually to local livlihoods isn't clear at all. What tourism will be sold when a prime attraction is Leatherback sea turtles rather than a transhipment terminal for tourists to see?

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 6. Wouldn't thinking big actually be better off by thinking of local islanders as assets rather than just tourism? Indigenous Iskanders are seen by the Aayog & Admin as liabilities. So too local islanders... increasing disparities and marginalization.

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 6b. If one has a stable local population, economic developmental stability can be envisioned and thought of in much bigger and better terms (an A&N model hasn't been thought of, but rather Singapore or Hong King Kong....there goes the made in India conceptualization)

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 6c. It also means, .. setting ones house in order before getting guests in. Also will translate into 'Atithi Devo Bhava'..I hope this can be envisioned.

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 7. The A&N coastline isn't 1900 km...it's much more... about 7000 odd, if am right.

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 8. Homestays are fewer than one can imagine, the focus is on hotels in the Andamans, and apart from a select few, run-of-the-mill type 'Otels' are burgeoning. If appropriate homestays are considered and actually facilitated it can be a different story, not Taj and golf courses.

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 8b. There's a major water scarcity experienced by islanders for years in an island chain that receives ~ 3500mm of rainfall. No one's really talking or thinking big on this issue for locals and tourists. After a morning dump, it's important to have water to wash and also to drink

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 9. Islands soils are not as fertile like Nitin has imagined (ask any local farmer). Inorganic cultivation of crops peaks across the islands (fact check from Agri dept). Great Nicobar is now a hub for inorganic cultivation, after
settlers suffered the tsunami and after effects.

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 9b...after effects, of which one is the transformation of organic cultivation to intensive inorganic cultivation of crops by new transient migrants.

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 10. This is the first step of transformation required, such as a return to organically grown crops, markets, education, well equipped medical facilities, potable water for residents, transportation, communication etc.

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 10 b. Unfortunately the focus is on tourism, playing golf in A&N and transhipment etc, rather than on such basic needs for locals. Public participation is poor, and dependence on govt extremely high. That has to change, and be facilitated rather than skipping this devpt step.

@StratNewsGlobal @shaktisinha @nitingokhale @Andaman_Admin @Admiral_DKJoshi @MediaRN_ANI @HQ_IDS_India @ITPortblair @indiannavy @IAF_MCC 11. Imagining a springboard is well and good, but the springs need to be strengthened before a board is placed over it, or else it's Humpty Dumpty all the way.

Thanks to you both for sharing your thoughts and views...I've just shared mine, and hope they're seen in good light.