Context: The transformation of India's Look East policy into a robust Act East policy and the critical importance of ocean power, have brought a degree of seriousness to the imperative of developing Indian island territories in general, and the Andaman and Nicobar group in particular.
Strategic importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
- Located: 700 nautical miles southeast of the Indian mainland.
- The Malacca Strait, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, is situated nearby.
- Sabang in Indonesia is 90 nautical miles southeast of Indira Point (on Great-Nicobar Island), and Coco Island (Myanmar) is barely 18 nautical miles from the northernmost tip of the Andamans.
- Myanmar has leased Coco Islands to China for the purpose of setting up a listening post.
- Share four of India's international maritime zone delimitations with Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
- Give India substantial ocean space under the United Nations Conference on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) in terms of exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
- These islands dominate the Bay of Bengal and the Six Degree and Ten Degree channels which more than 60,000 commercial vessels traverse each year.
- Other countries, notably China, have expanded their presence in the region.
- Naval vessels camouflaged as fishing boats have been sighted.
- Serious challenge: Build-up of Chinese maritime forces at the eastern choke points of the Indo-Pacific.
- Malacca (between Sumatra and the Malay peninsula),
- Sunda (between Java and Sumatra),
- Lombok (between Bali and Lombok),
- Ombai- Wetar (off East Timor) straits.
- Against such challenges, A&N Islands should be the first line of offence against any attempt from the East to undermine India's maritime security.
Development of strategic infrastructure in A&N has been slow:
- Distance from the mainland have been used as an excuse to delay and stall various projects.
- Complex procedures for obtaining environmental clearances even for small projects have been a dampener.
- Regulations on the conservation of forests and native tribes have complicated issues of land acquisition.
- Coordination challenges: Development of islands and strategic infrastructure is a multi-dimensional project involving several ministries, departments, and agencies.
Strategic infrastructures that are needed:
- Surveillance is required in a vast area around the islands.
- Strong element of deterrence must be ensured against any naval misadventure from the East.
- Infrastructure that can bolster India's maritime economy must be built on the southern group of islands that is strategically located vis-v-vis the main shipping lane from the Indian Ocean to South East Asia.
- Ease of travel to and between the islands, for rapid movement of people and goods, to increase the pace of development.
- Improved transportation to create and sustain the tourism potential of the islands.
- Islands' dependence on mainland support (foodstuffs) or dependence of local industries must be reduced to the extent possible.
The infrastructure that should be prioritised:
- The sea area of the islands needs to be monitored and patrolled by aircraft and surface platforms. Example: Separate airfields that can operate aircraft are essential.
- Ports and fuel storages must be built in both the northern and southern groups of the islands for ships' operational turnaround.
- The Army, Navy, and Air Force must not only commit more forces, but station the right mix of assets.
- Work on the Galathea Bay (Great Nicobar Island) transhipment port must be expedited.
- Maritime services such as repair and logistics must be developed for international and Indian shipping.
- Need for developed road networks, high-speed inter-island ferry services, and a seaplane terminal must be developed.
- Forest and environmental clearances must be accorded with minimum red tape.
- Concessions for defence infrastructure allowed along India's northern borders must be extended to the A&N Islands.
- Planned habitation of uninhabited islands should be considered by providing incentives such as free or subsidised land, where eco-friendly entrepreneurial efforts could be encouraged.
- Leverage international arrangements in the Indo-Pacific such as the Quad and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) to catalyse development efforts.