LAKSHADWEEP

WHY IN NEWS?

• Few days back a trip by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to these Lakshadweep archipelago and a tweet caused an unexpected international-relations storm.

ABOUT LAKSHADWEEP & ITS GEOGRAPHY:

• Lakshadweep is an archipelago of 36 islands, are located around 400 km to the west of Kerala.
• These islands have a total land area of merely 32 sq km but confer a 400,000-sq kms Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• Lakshadweep stands as sentinel in the Indian Ocean, overseeing the Sea Lines Of Communication (SLOC) that pass through ‘Nine Degree Channel’.

• The Nine-degree channel is used by merchant ships shuttling to and from Europe, the Middle East and western Asia, and south east Asia and the far east.
• The location of these islands away from the mainland provides a strategic and political advantage to India.

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF LAKSHADWEEP:

• Currently, Lakshadweep with its pristine beauty on a turquoise sea attracts less than 10,000 tourists annually.
• Thus, there is a opportunity of developing the islands by investing in infrastructure, promoting sustainable tourism, and strengthening security measures.
• India can transform this undiscovered asset into a shining beacon of prosperity and security in the Indian Ocean region.

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF LAKSHADWEEP:

• The strategic location of these island groups present in the most heavily sailed international maritime trade routes in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is of high importance.
• It has also assumed the strategic importance in recent years with the rise of China and its efforts to increase it’s presence in IOR.
• The persistent efforts by all major powers of the world to show their presence militarily, diplomatically and politically in the Indian Ocean Region (lOR) signifies the importance of archipelago.
• The islands can serve India as a Strategic Sentinel, Maritime Guardian and certainly as a Diplomatic Asset in the Indian Ocean.
• The geographical location of these islands also provides a tactical advantage to India during conflicts.
• In case of emergency, Lakshadweep can also be used as an ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’ away from the coastline of India.
• Lakshadweep islands can also serve as an Indian naval base in the Arabian Sea to safeguard our EEZ, prevent smuggling & sea piracy, monitor SLOCs, counter China’s influence and help in joint training with friendly foreign countries like QUAD.

WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE ?

• A well-orchestrated, sustainably planned development of these islands, to further the Nation’s foreign and strategic policy, is the present requirement of India.
• These secure and stable Island territories would be the launch pad for India to rediscover its great maritime and political influence in this region.
• A comprehensive defence-centric strategy would be the key to addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by Lakshadweep in the changing geopolitics of India Ocean Region.
• India also needs to develop dual-use facilities in Lakshadweep for both military and civilian purposes.
• The Airfields and naval jetties infrastructure on the islands can be upgraded to accommodate more traffic and larger aircraft.
• The inclusion of locals must be the first step before embarking on any development process.

WAY FORWARD: Owing to its multi-sectoral advantages, the security and preservation of island territories from state and non-state actors is vital for India.