Port Blair, October 07: The Andaman Nicobar Command would become a formidable force with a complete naval fleet consisting of command and control ships, submarines and related supportive infrastructure in a gradual manner. While addressing newspersons in Port Blair as a precursor to the Command’s 14th raising day that falls on tomorrow (8th October), its Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Pradeep Kumar Chatterjee today said, though acquiring a complete fleet is time consuming as the supportive infrastructure also requires to be built, such a force is a felt need for safeguarding the assets of the nation from the Eastern side. He said India’s defense diplomacy gets augmented through the Andaman Nicobar Command by way of having close coordination with the coast guards and naval forces of the neighbouring countries by way of having joint exercises on rescue and relief and disaster management operations.
Responding to a query on the proposed shipping canal to be built across the ‘Isthmus of Kra’ in southern Thailand, Vice Adml Pradeep K Chatterjee said, though the canal is considered to be an economic activity to reduce the distance for ships to travel from South China Sea to the Andaman Sea by 1200 kilometres, the reaction time for Indian naval forces to respond to any possible aggressive intentions by any adversary would also shrink by the same extent. Therefore, the evolution of naval activities in the next ten years in the vicinity needs to be closely watched, he said.
The defence forces comprising the Navy, Air Force, Army and Coast Guard in the Command are always on the vigil and committed to protect the Islands and the nation, he said. Due to the intense surveillance by the Command in coordination with the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and marine police, the number of poaching incidents in the Islands has drastically come down. As against 93 arrests last year for poaching, only three were apprehended this year. Similarly, cases of human trafficking has also fallen from the crest of 1353 cases last year to a clean record of ‘nil’ this year. The threat of illegal immigration needs to be addressed as it may cause social unrest in future, said Vice Adml PK Chatterjee.
Andaman and Nicobar assumes greater importance in strategic view point, as it could serve as the springboard for India’s Look East Policy and also due to the fact that 30 percent of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone is situated around it. The Islands can also serve as a maritime frontier on the East, he pointed out.
Underscoring the helping hand being extended to the local population, he said that almost every fortnight, the Command staff undertake one operation or the other to either evacuate people from vulnerable areas or for search and rescue mission. Growth of the Command will have its spin offs for the local population by way of creating infrastructure like roads, medical facilities and direct and indirect job opportunities as being witnessed now.
The Command’s functioning in an integrated way helps to optimize the use of its resources. The manpower and equipment in the Command is being enhanced continuously, Vice Admiral PK Chatterjee said. In addition to the existing Territorial Army Battalion, one more battalion has been sanctioned for the Islands offering job opportunities for the youth of the Islands. He expressed hope that the enrolment of the Islanders in defence forces would considerably go up in future. (PIB)
