New Delhi: After CNN-IBN reported how missile installations in Andaman and Nicobar Islands could hurt the existence of the endangered bird species Nicobar Megapode, the Enviornment Ministry has rejected the proposal.
"The habitat of the megapode should not be disturbed and the missile firing range should not come up in that area," Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said at a programme organised to mark the wildlife week in New Delhi.
The Indian Navy had proposed to set up a missile testing site at Tillanchong Sanctuary in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Rejecting the proposal, Natarajan said "the megapode actually does not exist anywhere and it is a
very unique species"....
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05:45 PM, Oct 05, 2012
New Delhi: The Narcondam Hornbill is found at only one place in the world - Narcondam, in the Andamans. The Nicobar Megapod, a wingless bird, is found in the Tillanchong Sanctuary, again in the Andamans. Both these birds and the fragile ecology of the Andamans are now facing a direct threat from proposals floated by the Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. The Navy wants to construct a structure for...
01:48 PM, Jul 16, 2012
New Delhi: After the controversy over a video showing scantily clad Jarawa tribal women, the government on Thursday approved promulgation of a legislation that provides for imprisonment up to seven years for such crimes in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Union Cabinet approved the proposal for promulgation of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal tribes) Amendment Regulation 2012. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters that the decision...
05:16 PM, May 31, 2012
New Delhi: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale jolted the Nicobar islands Wednesday afternoon, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said in New Delhi. The temblor struck at 1.12 pm on Wednesday, an IMD official from the seismology department said. "The earthquake was of moderate intensity measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale. It occurred in the Nicobar islands region," the official added. ...
02:53 PM, Apr 25, 2012
Port Blair: The members of Jarawa community are willing to come to the mainstream and embrace modern lifestyle, a local MP has said. "It would not be appropriate to suppress the voice of the community and leave them in total isolation," Bishnu Pada Ray told a press meet in Port Blair on Friday. "A parliamentary standing committee has already recommended review of policy for the primitive tribe of Andaman and...
03:02 PM, Apr 14, 2012
The earth shook. The floor I was sitting on was shaking for about 5 seconds. I was in my world when I was shaken by ...
05:40 PM, Apr 11, 2012
New Delhi: A moderate earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale on Sunday struck Nicobar Islands region. The quake hit the islands at 2.28 am, according to the Met department. There was no immediate report of any damage to life or property due to the tremors. The Nicobar Islands comprise 22 large and small islands, and are situated in the south-east of the Bay of Bengal. ...
07:34 AM, Mar 11, 2012
New Delhi: An earthquake jolted the Andaman and Nicobar Islands late on Thursday night. The quake measuring 5 on the Richter scale struck at 11.23pm. No injuries or damages have been reported. No tsunami warning has been issued. ...
10:19 AM, Mar 02, 2012
New Delhi: The Andaman & Nicobar police has arrested a constable in the case of the Jarawa tribes allegedly being exploited. The constable has been arrested for allegedly asking the Jarawa natives to dance for foreign tourists and filming them. The investigation led to the constable after he was identified by the five Jarawa women who were filmed dancing. It is illegal to take photographs or videos of the members...
03:44 PM, Feb 21, 2012
London: Amidst concern and inquiries in India, a London-based tribal rights group on Thursday appealed to a UN committee to renew its call to close the key Andaman Trunk Road to stop "human safaris" in the islands. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) had sought the closure of the road in 2007. After recent exposures in the UK media and inquiries instituted by the Indian government,...
04:50 PM, Feb 16, 2012
New Delhi: The government is planning to rope in health and nutrition experts to study living pattern of tribals, including Jarawas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in an effort to reduce their susceptibility to diseases. Observing that the immunity of tribals and forest dwellers in the country is an area of concern, Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo told PTI that "utmost importance" should be given to their health...
02:58 PM, Feb 12, 2012
Port Blair: A policeman, identified in the video footage depicting members of Jarawa tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dancing semi-naked, has been suspended. A departmental enquiry has also been initiated against him, police said. "The policeman identified as PC Claton was sitting on the road while Jarawa women were made to dance on the road for an unknown videographer," SP, South Andaman, SBS Tyagi said. "He was suspended yesterday...
08:20 PM, Feb 09, 2012
New Delhi: The government has stressed on the need to immunise members of the Jarawa tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands against diseases and genetic disorders to ensure that their numbers do not dwindle further. The 2001 Census put the Jarawas count at 241. The tribe first came in contact with the civilisation in late 1997 when some Jarawas started coming out of their forest to visit nearby settlements. But...
09:58 AM, Feb 05, 2012
New Delhi: What are being called 'Human Safaris' and India's shame, two more videos have surfaced showing members of the protected Jarawa tribe being made to dance before tourists in exchange for food. What's even more disturbing is that men in uniform are clearly seen in the video, they can be heard speaking Hindi and ordering the tribals to perform. Britain's Observer newspaper which accessed both videos said it raised...
06:12 AM, Feb 05, 2012
Port Blair: Andaman and Nicobar Police have arrested two persons for allegedly organising a trip of a British journalist to the Jarawa reserve and providing him with the video of dancing semi-naked women of the tribe. The police has nabbed photographer Rajesh Vyas and taxi owner Sarjeet Singh, who allegedly organised the trip of Gethin Chamberlian in return of "hefty monetary consideration" for ensuring contacts with the Jarawas. "Rajesh Vyas...
07:28 PM, Jan 24, 2012
New Delhi: The Chief Secretary of Andaman has said that the licences of tour operators will be cancelled if they come close to the tribal areas. Special laws have been enforced in the Jarawa areas on Andaman Islands as the tour operators have been warned to stay away from the endangered tribe. Strict action will be taken at the violation of the law. The Chief Secretary of Andaman Shakti Sinha...
11:48 AM, Jan 16, 2012
Port Blair: In a shocker from Andaman, a video showing women from the protected Jarawa tribe being made to dance for food and for tourists has exposed the dark side of the tourism. While the Andaman administration is downplaying this exploitation of the tribe that number just about 400 saying the video is an old one, tour operators have confirmed that human safaris do happen although they refused to say...
08:40 AM, Jan 13, 2012
The local administration in the Andamans has denied any violation in the Jarawa tribal reserve, but CNN-IBN found a different story. ...
10:30 PM, Jan 12, 2012
Port Blair/New Delhi: A massive hunt has been launched by the Andaman Nicobar administration to nab the persons responsible for videographing semi-naked Jarawa tribal women dancing in front of tourists as the Centre sent the footage for forensic analysis. Andaman Police on Thursday registered a case against unknown persons in connection with the shooting and uploading of a video under the Indian Penal Code, Information and Technology Act, Scheduled Caste...
07:30 PM, Jan 12, 2012
Port Blair: The Andaman Police have registered a case against unknown people for shooting and uploading the videos of the protected Jarawa tribe. 'The Observer' showed a video of women from the protected Jarawa tribe being made to dance for tourists after cops were paid off. Talking on the issue, Andaman Chief Secretary Shakti Sinha said, "I do not agree that there are violations on the Action Taken Report (ATR)....
01:40 PM, Jan 12, 2012
