ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS STILL STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CALCUTTA 000103

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID SENV PGOV SOCI TPHY XD IN
SUBJECT: ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS STILL STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM
2004 TSUNAMI

REF: 05 CALCUTTA 0186


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Over a year after suffering the tsunami
disaster of December 2004, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands still
have not fully recovered. The GOI's substantial mobilization of
assistance, while initially laudable, has now resulted in a
culture of dependency in which the population appears reluctant
to begin the hard work of reconstruction. In January Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, while visiting the Andamans, publicly
castigated government officials for failing to rehabilitate
agricultural land and to rebuild infrastructure. Commerce,
tourism and the environment are all struggling with the effects
of the disaster. Officials are starting to address the more
fundamental recovery problems but the tsunami's impact will be
felt for many more years in the islands. END SUMMARY


2. (U) Just over a year ago, on the morning of December 26,
2004, the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago was rocked by one of
the more severe earthquakes experienced in the region in recent
times and were then battered by the resulting tsunami wave. The
Nicobar group of islands, being closer to the quake epicenter,
was hardest hit. The shifting grounds and the resulting waves
changed the geography of Nicobar forever. While slightly
farther away to the north, the more populated and developed
Andamans experienced greater damage to infrastructure.
According to official numbers, 3,513 people were killed or
missing, 10,000 families were displaced, 10,837 hectare
agricultural land lost, and 85 schools, 34 health centers and 24
jetties damaged. In response, over the past year the GOI
provided a USD 190 million relief package, shifted 15,000 metric
ton of construction material from the mainland and built 9,565
intermediate shelters spread over eight islands. However, as
the relief period tapers off, the 350,000 inhabitants of the
archipelago are now realizing that hard work, and not just aid,
is required to rebuild their lives.


3. (SBU) The prolonged relief phase has created a culture of
dependency for many of the islanders, with some in the community
resisting returning to work. NGO contacts have noted instances
of able-bodied islanders foregoing jobs and instead seeking free
rations that are still being distributed. Recruiting local
labor for construction projects is difficult because the rations
are readily available, precluding the need to work for an income
and food. In January, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
castigated the island's administration for failing to create
incentives to work and for poorly managing the recovery. The PM
also commented that he would consider establishing a legislative
assembly so that the people can select their representatives - a
way of creating greater civic involvement in the reconstruction
(Reftel). At present, the islands are ruled by a GOI-appointed
Lieutenant Governor. As a result, the people have limited
involvement in the local administration and policy issues,
except at the very local village level through the recently
established panchayats (village councils). Andaman officials
and NGOs, more aware of the problem of complacency, are now
attempting to implement more sustainable projects that will
encourage self-sufficiency.


4. (SBU) Complicating the recovery, post sources also point out
that there has been little progress on reclamation of
agricultural land inundated by saltwater. In some places,
especially in the northern islands, land still flooded by
seawater is being used for prawn farming. However, promoting
pisciculture requires training farmers in new skills. In the
Nicobar group of islands, nearly 75 percent of the economically
critical coconut plantations were destroyed. Because of limited
work options, Nicobari tribal captain Dr. Anwar Moosa told post
that once the government stops free ration, the tribals could
face severe food shortages.


5. (SBU) Problems have also arisen in infrastructure
reconstruction. Locals are unhappy with the plans for new
shelters. The Planning Commission of India recommended houses
made of prefabricated bamboo sheets. The less developed
Nicobari tribes, struggling more to adapt to the post-tsunami
circumstances, are dissatisfied with the proposed prefabricated
structures and instead want to use indigenous material to build
their homes in the traditional manner. In addition, NGOs like
SEEDS are complaining of being left out of the shelter design

CALCUTTA 00000103 002 OF 002


phase, reducing them to be mere contractors. Rebuilding of the
jetties, roads and bridges has been delayed as well, due to slow
administration and the late monsoon season.


6. (SBU) The Andaman Islands Chamber of Commerce (ACC)
president Mohammad Jadwet told post that the commercial sector
is still suffering as the GOI's supply of free rations is
hampering the revival of inter-island retail trade that is an
important part of the islands' economy. Tourism is picking up
gradually, but the high-end international tourists (divers and
bird watchers) are yet to return. Eco-tourism may require more
time to resume as the archipelago's fragile marine ecosystem has
not completely recovered. Still after one year, the seabed
continues to shift. Andaman's capital city Port Blair sunk by
about 3 ft immediately after the earthquake. Recent studies
show that the city has now risen by about 6 inches. Ecologists
and hydrologists believe that the ecosystem will take more time
to stabilize.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the GOI is attempting to wrap-up
relief programs in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, as a senior
Andaman official observed, "the long haul has just begun." Many
islanders still have no permanent home and no prospect of
employment in the near future. After Prime Minister's Singh's
public admonishment, island administrators are making more of an
effort to repair damaged infrastructure and restart the
inter-island trade. However, the islands will suffer the
lasting effects of the 2004 tsunami for many more years to come.
JARDINE