In a move to breathe new life into the shattered economy, the authorities signed
a five-year deal in June with the resort town of Phuket in Thailand, famous for
its beaches but also for burgeoning sex trade. The deal would allow tourists
visiting Phuket to take a short flight to the Andamans.
Environmentalists, who have now written to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi seeking
her immediate intervention, say the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration
is using the tsunami as a garb to lure Phuket's tourists to the Andamans.
"The government has been trying to do this for the past 10 years. They have
made four attempts, none of which was allowed to become successful. Now, after
the tsunami, they have found the best reason to push through their plans. They
are telling people that it is to improve tourism," said activist Bittu Sehgal.
Activist Pankaj Sekhsaria said: "The tourists who go to Phuket look to the sex
trade. They will do the same when they come to the Andamans. They will then
exploit the women of Andamans who are reeling under dire poverty after the
tsunami. Andamans have a fragile ecology and have one of the purest rain
forests. We have made a desperate plea to the National Advisory Council to
intervene."
Another activist Samir Acharya also said there was an acute scarcity of
drinking water on the islands. "It's difficult for local people to get regular
supply of water. Where will the water come from to sustain a big industry?" he
asked.
In an agreement in June, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had joined hands with
Phuket to promote tourism, trade and commerce.
IANS
