Hotline
Asia issued UA061229(10)
at the second anniversary of the 2004 Asian tsunami
to highlight the local struggle of tsunami victims at
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for participatory
process in rehabilitation. Their peaceful protest in
November 2006 was met with tear gas and lathi charge
by the police and Indian Reserve Battalion, injuring
over 100 people. The UA requested authorities to
uphold their obligation under the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(ICESCR) to provide adequate housing through a
participatory process that suits the needs of the
people in Andaman and Nicobar Islands taking
consideration of their unique social, cultural and
traditional way of life.
According
to the Hindustan Times Mumbai, three years through
the 4-year rehabilitation program launched in
2005-2006, more than 60% or Rs 60,000 million
(appprox. USD 1.42 million) remained unutilized. In
the past 3 years, only a total of Rs 35,000 million
(approx. USD 833,333) have been spent. The main
reasons were stated as logistic measures, issues of
land acquisition, environmental clearances and
controversies in the rehabilitation operations,
according to a senior official.
Ahead
of the March 2009 deadline, the state governments of
Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as well as the Union
Territories of Pondicherry and Andaman Nicobar
Islands, have sought for extension to complete the
planned projects. However, the appeal was rejected by
the Empowered Group of Ministries headed by the Home
Minister Shivraj Patil which monitors the
implementation of the rehabilitation work; this means
that the funds may lapse after the deadline.
Source:
Hindustan Times Mumbai