Lakshadweep administration to deploy officials in fishing boats as part of 'reforms'

THE Lakshadweep island administration has decided to deploy government officials onboard local fishing boats for intelligence gathering as part of its 'reform' measures.

It also issued a new order on managing cleanliness and hygiene, directing people to scientifically dispose of the tender coconut shell, tree leaves, coconut husk, coconut shell, trunk etc in and around dwelling and public places.

The islanders are staging protest against these decisions taken by the administration.

Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal attacked the administration for its new directives, terming them as a "mockery" and urged the authorities to withdraw them immediately.

On May 28, a meeting chaired by principal secretary cum advisor to the administrator decided to depute responsible government servants onboard local fishing boats for intelligence gathering.

The meeting also decided to strengthen the security measures to monitor the local fishing boats and crews, intensify checking of passenger boats and vessels reaching the islands and strengthen the ship berthing points and helibase by installing CCTV cameras.

Faizal MP questioned the practicality of implementing the order, saying there are hundreds of fishing boats operating from the islands and how many officials are going to be deployed in such vessels.

He added that the Coast Guard headquarters in islands have an effective radar system which can cover activities of any vessels operating in 30 nautical mile areas.

Faizal pointed out that every month or once in three months Coast Guard is having regular interaction with the local fishermen to train them on how to report the movement of suspected objects in the seas.

"All this training is given to the fishermen. They are very cooperative with the security agencies. By introducing such a law, what are they (administration) trying to establish," he told PTI.

"The recent order, which has come in the way of surveillance on the coastal areas of Lakshadweep, is really a mockery .. I feel."

He asked why such surveillance using officials onboard fishing vessels were not happening in coastal states like Gujarat, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The administration said whoever violates or contravenes any of the directions on hygiene shall be liable for punishment with fine as per Schedule I of the Lakshadweep Solid Waste Management Bye-Law, 2018 and also be liable to criminal proceedings for offence punishable under Section 188 of IPC.

According to the MP, the administration should provide technology for scientifically managing the waste.

The opposition Congress Party has decided to step up its agitation against the administration for its "anti-people" reform measures in the islands.

The MPs from the Congress-led UDF in Kerala will organise a dharna in front of the territorial administration office in Kochi on Monday.

Expressing solidarity with the people of Lakshadweep, the Kerala Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution demanding the recall of island administrator Praful Khoda Patel and requesting the centre's immediate intervention to protect the lives and livelihood of the islanders.

An archipelago located in the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep has been witnessing protests by locals over the recent actions and administrative reforms implemented by Patel.

Defending its action, the Lakshadweep administration has said it was laying the foundation for the future of islands in a planned way and to develop it on the lines of Maldives in two decades.