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<\/em><\/p>\n We can\u2019t believe another year is coming to an end. Time truly flies so fast. And saying that from one of India\u2019s top tourist locations where time stands still for may who visit, it does seem ironical. 2016 Andaman has been one mixed bag.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Andaman bush toad discovered<\/strong>:<\/a><\/p>\n Found on a herb bush, a toad of only 24 mm average length, the species name was derived from the local epithet \u2018beryet\u2019, referring to \u2018small frog\u2019 in Andamanese. As a result, the toad was named Blythophryne beryet<\/i>.<\/p>\n SAT phones banned in Indian waters<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Govt planning to open up 5 restricted Andaman & Nicobar islands to tourists<\/strong>:<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u2026 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,\u201d said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar<\/p>\n Radhanagar beach gets yet another award<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Three of India\u2019s beaches have featured in TripAdvisor\u2019s top 10 \u2018Asia\u2019s Travellers\u2019 Choice Award-Winning Beaches\u2019. 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.<\/p>\n Underwater safari begins in Andaman<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 5.1 earthquake hits Andaman<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n India\u2019s coral reef threatened by bleaching<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Bleaching events have affected India\u2019s reefs adversely before and many scientists fear that the ongoing \u201cglobal coral bleaching event<\/a>\u201d triggered by climate change and the El Ni\u00f1o effect could have a negative long term impact on the coral reefs<\/p>\n Coffee day comes to Andaman<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The move is focused on promoting the Andaman Islands as a favoured holiday destination for adventure travellers.<\/p>\n Early monsoon comes to Andaman<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The rains came in sooner than usual but no one was complaining<\/p>\n Eternal flame to honour Savarkar<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Rare seabird flies into camera view<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 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<\/i>), rare in India.<\/p>\n Vistara announces daily flights to Port Blair<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Vistara airline, a full service carrier announced the addition of Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, as its 18th destination<\/p>\n Wildlife Institute of India to conserve Dugongs<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n New unknown ancestor of man discovered in Andaman<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s Andaman island.<\/p>\n Govt plans to open up uninhabited islands in Andaman & Lakshadweep for tourism<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The Union government on the reference of the Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO) has set up a Committee to look into possibilities of opening up uninhabited islands in Andamans as well as Lakshadweep waters for \u201chi-value\u201d tourism.<\/p>\n In a first, natural gas hydrates discovered in the Indian Ocean<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Heavy rain in Port Blair breaks decade old record<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Jagdish Mukhi sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Senior BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi assumed office as the 12th Lieutenant Governor of the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.<\/p>\n Air Force now flying civilian passengers in Andaman & Nicobar<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Indian Air Force has now started flying civilian passengers twice a week in the remote Andaman and Nicobar islands<\/p>\n PHOTOS: A Last Look At Rajan, Andaman\u2019s Only Swimming Elephant<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The world\u2019s 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<\/p>\n Indigenous breeds of goat, pig from Nicobar gets recognition<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources has recognised Teressa Goat and Nicobari pig found in the Andaman and Nicobar islands as new breeds<\/p>\n Cabinet nod for submarine optical fibre link for Andaman islands<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Chewing Tobacco To Be Banned In Andaman And Nicobar Islands<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n Nine Indian islands chosen for Singapore-like tourism boost<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Vistara starts flying to Andaman & Nicobar Islands<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n IndiGo adds Port Blair as its 41st destination; launches additional flights in domestic sectors<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Andaman to go green with India\u2019s first solar storage power plant<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n India\u2019s 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\u2019s bid to rid the tourist hotspot of polluting diesel generators, its main source of power at present.<\/p>\n CMFRI to provide seaweed cultivation technology to Andaman<\/a><\/p>\n How demonitization is affecting the travel industry<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"|!|vcvUploadUrl|!|\/2018\/12\/2016-year-review-andaman.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2016 Andaman Year In Review<\/h2>\n
JANUARY<\/h6>\n
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<\/p>\nFEBRUARY<\/h6>\n
![\"\"](\"|!|vcvUploadUrl|!|\/2018\/12\/havelock-island11.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMARCH<\/h6>\n
![\"\"](\"|!|vcvUploadUrl|!|\/2018\/12\/submarine-andaman.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAPRIL<\/h6>\n
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<\/p>\nMAY<\/h6>\n
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<\/p>\nJUNE<\/h6>\n
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<\/p>\nJULY<\/h6>\n
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<\/p>\nAUGUST<\/h6>\n
![\"\"](\"|!|vcvUploadUrl|!|\/2018\/12\/rajan-andaman-swimming-elephant.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSEPTEMBER<\/h6>\n
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<\/p>\nOCTOBER<\/h6>\n
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\nThe 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.<\/p>\nNOVEMBER<\/h6>\n
![\"\"](\"|!|vcvUploadUrl|!|\/2018\/12\/demonitization.jpg\")
\nDid demonitization prove to be a dampener or did life for tourists go on like normal. Here\u2019s the insider account<\/p>\nDECEMBER<\/h6>\n
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