Sri Vijaya Puram, March 22: Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray has written to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India highlighting critical concerns regarding environmental governance and coastal management in the Islands.
In his detailed representation, the MP has pointed out a fundamental gap in the existing regulatory framework under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the CRZ Notification, 2019. He emphasised that while current laws focus heavily on where development is permitted, they do not adequately regulate what is discharged into the sea thereafter, which poses a serious threat to fragile island ecosystems.
The MP underlined that in ecologically sensitive island territories like Andaman & Nicobar, there is effectively no real “safe zone”, as even permitted development can lead to irreversible environmental damage if waste and effluent are not properly managed.
Raising concerns on governance, Shri Ray highlighted that the Islands are witnessing a serious and growing administrative disconnect, which has worsened significantly over the past eight years. He stated that disengagement from the public and a tendency to avoid or halt statutory processes instead of strengthening them has adversely impacted policy implementation and eroded public confidence.
The MP also drew attention to the challenges faced by common citizens, noting that excessive regulations, high compliance costs, and procedural complexities have created a system where compliance becomes difficult and bypass becomes a practical choice. He emphasised that this is not a failure of citizens, but a reflection of policy design not aligned with island realities.
Highlighting ground realities, Shri Ray pointed out that continued dependence on diesel-based power, Gaps in sewage treatment and waste management infrastructure, Increasing tourism pressure without matching infrastructure capacity.
Calling for urgent reform, the MP has proposed a shift towards a performance-based coastal management framework, which would focus on actual environmental outcomes rather than just zoning restrictions. Key suggestions include (i) Universal sewer connectivity (ii) Advanced sewage treatment systems (iii) Marine outfall infrastructure (iv) Real-time monitoring of effluent discharge.
Importantly, he stressed that the responsibility for environmental protection must lie primarily with the Government through creation of robust infrastructure, rather than placing disproportionate burden on citizens.
As a forward-looking suggestion, Shri Ray also proposed that rationalisation of airfares to improve tourism connectivity could be complemented by a nominal “Island Sustainability Fee” linked to duration of stay, ensuring that tourism directly contributes to infrastructure development without burdening local residents.
The MP has urged the Hon’ble Prime Minister to direct concerned Ministries to undertake a comprehensive review and implement an island-specific, performance-driven coastal management framework, along with measures to restore administrative responsiveness and strengthen public trust in governance.