Government beefs up security of Andaman and Lakshadweep islands

NEW DELHI: Against the backdrop of reports of increased Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean, Government has beefed up security in the strategically located Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.

"The government is aware of strategic importance of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep and has been taking steps to enhance security in the two Union Territories," Home Minister P Chidambaram said here today.

Chidambaram said a unified command has already been set up in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to achieve strategic objectives.

" Additional police forces have been sanctioned for both Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep," he said at the meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Home Ministry.

New Delhi has taken note of China constructing ports in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, India's three immediate neighbours.

The Home Minister said connectivity is a major issue in Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the government is addressing it.

Dispelling the impression that there is no representative democracy in the UTs which have no assemblies, Chidambaram pointed out that panchayat bodies are in place in all such UTs.

Referring to Chandigarh, the Home Minister said the UT administration was preparing a Master Plan 2031 which was aimed at sustainable development of Chandigarh while retaining its essential character. PTI ACB VMN 09021816 NNNN