2016 Andaman Year In Review: Ithas been a mixed bag for Andaman this year. Here are some of the amazing things that happened here and its impact on the coming year
We can’t believe another year is coming to an end. Time truly flies so fast. And saying that from one of India’s top tourist locations where time stands still for may who visit, it does seem ironical. 2016 Andaman has been one mixed bag.
There are many things that happened over the year that inched its way to change Andaman. Here are the top news from Andaman in 2016.
2016 Andaman Year In Review
JANUARY
Found on a herb bush, a toad of only 24 mm average length, the species name was derived from the local epithet ‘beryet’, referring to ‘small frog’ in Andamanese. As a result, the toad was named Blythophryne beryet.
SAT phones banned in Indian waters
It should be noted that breaches are seen as a state security matter resulting in a complicated and time consuming investigation. Severe delays/detention of the vessel is likely, over and above the crew potentially facing criminal proceedings
FEBRUARY
Govt planning to open up 5 restricted Andaman & Nicobar islands to tourists:
“I went to the place recently to meet people. It is 94 per cent forest and rest is Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). The place is so beautiful it can easily beat Thailand and Phuket… But due to our policies we could not open it for public. We have prepared a plan and we are working on it to develop five islands of the place for eco-tourism without disturbing their forests,” said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
Radhanagar beach gets yet another award
Three of India’s beaches have featured in TripAdvisor’s top 10 ‘Asia’s Travellers’ Choice Award-Winning Beaches’. Radhanagar Beach on the Havelock Island in the Andamans has been placed at No. 10 in the list for its stretch of white sand with picture perfect waters lined with palm trees.
MARCH
Underwater safari begins in Andaman
This year Andaman introduced a way for you to enjoy the spectacular underwater sights without getting your feet wet. Everyone from 7 to 70 could together enjoy this as a family via the underwater safari
APRIL
According to National Centre for Seismology, the earthquake hit the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, known as a high seismic zone, at the depth of 10 kms at 2:02 AM
India’s coral reef threatened by bleaching
Bleaching events have affected India’s reefs adversely before and many scientists fear that the ongoing “global coral bleaching event” triggered by climate change and the El Niño effect could have a negative long term impact on the coral reefs
The move is focused on promoting the Andaman Islands as a favoured holiday destination for adventure travellers.
MAY
Early monsoon comes to Andaman
The rains came in sooner than usual but no one was complaining
Eternal flame to honour Savarkar
BJP president Amit Shah, accompanied by oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on Saturday inaugurated an eternal flame to commemorate the 133rd birth anniversary of noted freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on the premises of the Cellular Jail at Port Blair in Andaman
Rare seabird flies into camera view
On a birding and underwater photographic expedition to Andaman, 22-year-old wildlife photographer Deepansh Mishra spotted a white bird at the South Andaman Island. The next day, he spotted a similar bird near the Port Blair jetty and managed to click it. He did not realise then that he had spotted and photographed the white-tailed tropic bird ( Phaethon lepturus), rare in India.
JUNE
Vistara announces daily flights to Port Blair
Vistara airline, a full service carrier announced the addition of Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, as its 18th destination
Wildlife Institute of India to conserve Dugongs
Dugong also called as Sea Cow is the only existing species of herbivorous mammals that lives exclusively in the sea. The population of dugongs in India is expected to be less than 250 individuals in highly fragmented conditions. Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has been the implementation of dugong recovery program for which the Centre has also allocated fund of Rs 23.58 crore for a period of five years.
JULY
New unknown ancestor of man discovered in Andaman
In a discovery that could potentially challenge the history of human evolution, an Indo-Spanish team of researchers caught hold of a centuries old, but still unknown descendant of a new family of early men in India’s Andaman island.
Govt plans to open up uninhabited islands in Andaman & Lakshadweep for tourism
The Union government on the reference of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has set up a Committee to look into possibilities of opening up uninhabited islands in Andamans as well as Lakshadweep waters for “hi-value” tourism.
In a first, natural gas hydrates discovered in the Indian Ocean
They are considered as vast resources of natural gas and are known to occur in marine sediments on continental shelf margins. Gas hydrate resources in India are estimated at 1,894 trillion cubic meters and these deposits occur in Western, Eastern and Andaman offshore areas.
Heavy rain in Port Blair breaks decade old record
After a long hiatus, good Monsoon rains returned to Port Blair during last 24 hours. The heavy spell of rain, resulting in 127 mm, turned out to be record breaking for the capital and one of the largest city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
AUGUST
Jagdish Mukhi sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar
Senior BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi assumed office as the 12th Lieutenant Governor of the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Air Force now flying civilian passengers in Andaman & Nicobar
Indian Air Force has now started flying civilian passengers twice a week in the remote Andaman and Nicobar islands
PHOTOS: A Last Look At Rajan, Andaman’s Only Swimming Elephant
The world’s only ocean-swimming elephant passed away eat the age of 66 in the Andamans. The legendary elephant, called Rajan, had retired from his swimming duties in 2014
Indigenous breeds of goat, pig from Nicobar gets recognition
The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources has recognised Teressa Goat and Nicobari pig found in the Andaman and Nicobar islands as new breeds
SEPTEMBER
Cabinet nod for submarine optical fibre link for Andaman islands
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs 1,102.38 crore project for a direct communication link through a dedicated submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) between the mainland in Chennai and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Chewing Tobacco To Be Banned In Andaman And Nicobar Islands
Officials of the union territory said Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar islands Jagdish Mukhi has given instructions to ban the use of all forms of chewing tobacco products from October 2 for a period of one year
Nine Indian islands chosen for Singapore-like tourism boost
The azure seas and white coral beaches of Lakshadweep and the tropical lushness of Andaman & Nicobar have been identified as tourism growth zones with nine islands selected as part of a Niti Aayog masterplan.
Vistara starts flying to Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The new route connects Port Blair, the capital of the island group, with Delhi, via Kolkata. And its launch has also led to the introduction of a third daily flight between Delhi and Kolkata
IndiGo adds Port Blair as its 41st destination; launches additional flights in domestic sectors
Low-cost carrier IndiGo today said it would add Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands as its 41st overall and 36th domestic destination in its schedule from later this month.
OCTOBER
Andaman to go green with India’s first solar storage power plant
India’s largest generation utility NTPC will set up two solar storage plants with a total capacity of 25 mw (mega watt) in the main island of Port Blair as part of the Narendra Modi government’s bid to rid the tourist hotspot of polluting diesel generators, its main source of power at present.
CMFRI to provide seaweed cultivation technology to Andaman
The emerging seaweed farming industry in the country will get a major boost, with the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) transferring its technology of seaweed cultivation to the Andaman administration.
NOVEMBER
How demonitization is affecting the travel industry
Did demonitization prove to be a dampener or did life for tourists go on like normal. Here’s the insider account
DECEMBER
Have-locked: Cyclone Vardah and back to normal
The cyclone that hit Andaman on 5 Dec left quite a few people stranded in popular islands but joint effort from the navy, air force and continuos support from local experts ensured that no one was hurt during the episode
Travel insurance and other things when you plan your Andaman Holiday
Travel insurance isn’t something you book on the side. It is one of the must-have components of your dream holiday
That’s a great year, all in all. And we have some exciting surprises planned for 2017. If you are looking to holiday in one of Asia’s best beaches with the island’s most trusted tour operator, don’t forget to tap on us.