VZCZCXRO5085
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCI #0103/01 0611232
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021232Z MAR 06
FM AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0821
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0766
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0173
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0297
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0297
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0077
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0178
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0099
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0079
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 0014
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0013
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY USAID
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1004

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CALCUTTA 000103 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EAID SENV PGOV SOCI TPHY XD IN
SUBJECT: ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS STILL STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM 
2004 TSUNAMI 
 
REF: 05 CALCUTTA 0186 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Over a year after suffering the tsunami 
disaster of December 2004, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands still 
have not fully recovered.  The GOI's substantial mobilization of 
assistance, while initially laudable, has now resulted in a 
culture of dependency in which the population appears reluctant 
to begin the hard work of reconstruction.  In January Prime 
Minister Manmohan Singh, while visiting the Andamans, publicly 
castigated government officials for failing to rehabilitate 
agricultural land and to rebuild infrastructure.  Commerce, 
tourism and the environment are all struggling with the effects 
of the disaster.  Officials are starting to address the more 
fundamental recovery problems but the tsunami's impact will be 
felt for many more years in the islands.  END SUMMARY 
 
¶2.  (U) Just over a year ago, on the morning of December 26, 
2004, the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago was rocked by one of 
the more severe earthquakes experienced in the region in recent 
times and were then battered by the resulting tsunami wave.  The 
Nicobar group of islands, being closer to the quake epicenter, 
was hardest hit.  The shifting grounds and the resulting waves 
changed the geography of Nicobar forever.  While slightly 
farther away to the north, the more populated and developed 
Andamans experienced greater damage to infrastructure. 
According to official numbers, 3,513 people were killed or 
missing, 10,000 families were displaced, 10,837 hectare 
agricultural land lost, and 85 schools, 34 health centers and 24 
jetties damaged.  In response, over the past year the GOI 
provided a USD 190 million relief package, shifted 15,000 metric 
ton of construction material from the mainland and built 9,565 
intermediate shelters spread over eight islands.  However, as 
the relief period tapers off, the 350,000 inhabitants of the 
archipelago are now realizing that hard work, and not just aid, 
is required to rebuild their lives. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The prolonged relief phase has created a culture of 
dependency for many of the islanders, with some in the community 
resisting returning to work.  NGO contacts have noted instances 
of able-bodied islanders foregoing jobs and instead seeking free 
rations that are still being distributed.  Recruiting local 
labor for construction projects is difficult because the rations 
are readily available, precluding the need to work for an income 
and food.  In January, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 
castigated the island's administration for failing to create 
incentives to work and for poorly managing the recovery.  The PM 
also commented that he would consider establishing a legislative 
assembly so that the people can select their representatives - a 
way of creating greater civic involvement in the reconstruction 
(Reftel).  At present, the islands are ruled by a GOI-appointed 
Lieutenant Governor.   As a result, the people have limited 
involvement in the local administration and policy issues, 
except at the very local village level through the recently 
established panchayats (village councils).  Andaman officials 
and NGOs, more aware of the problem of complacency, are now 
attempting to implement more sustainable projects that will 
encourage self-sufficiency. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Complicating the recovery, post sources also point out 
that there has been little progress on reclamation of 
agricultural land inundated by saltwater.  In some places, 
especially in the northern islands, land still flooded by 
seawater is being used for prawn farming. However, promoting 
pisciculture requires training farmers in new skills.  In the 
Nicobar group of islands, nearly 75 percent of the economically 
critical coconut plantations were destroyed.  Because of limited 
work options, Nicobari tribal captain Dr. Anwar Moosa told post 
that once the government stops free ration, the tribals could 
face severe food shortages. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Problems have also arisen in infrastructure 
reconstruction.  Locals are unhappy with the plans for new 
shelters.  The Planning Commission of India recommended houses 
made of prefabricated bamboo sheets.  The less developed 
Nicobari tribes, struggling more to adapt to the post-tsunami 
circumstances, are dissatisfied with the proposed prefabricated 
structures and instead want to use indigenous material to build 
their homes in the traditional manner.  In addition, NGOs like 
SEEDS are complaining of being left out of the shelter design 
 
CALCUTTA 00000103  002 OF 002 
 
 
phase, reducing them to be mere contractors.  Rebuilding of the 
jetties, roads and bridges has been delayed as well, due to slow 
administration and the late monsoon season. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Andaman Islands Chamber of Commerce (ACC) 
president Mohammad Jadwet told post that the commercial sector 
is still suffering as the GOI's supply of free rations is 
hampering the revival of inter-island retail trade that is an 
important part of the islands' economy.  Tourism is picking up 
gradually, but the high-end international tourists (divers and 
bird watchers) are yet to return.  Eco-tourism may require more 
time to resume as the archipelago's fragile marine ecosystem has 
not completely recovered.  Still after one year, the seabed 
continues to shift.  Andaman's capital city Port Blair sunk by 
about 3 ft immediately after the earthquake.  Recent studies 
show that the city has now risen by about 6 inches.  Ecologists 
and hydrologists believe that the ecosystem will take more time 
to stabilize. 
 
¶7. (SBU) COMMENT:  Although the GOI is attempting to wrap-up 
relief programs in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, as a senior 
Andaman official observed, "the long haul has just begun."  Many 
islanders still have no permanent home and no prospect of 
employment in the near future.  After Prime Minister's Singh's 
public admonishment, island administrators are making more of an 
effort to repair damaged infrastructure and restart the 
inter-island trade.  However, the islands will suffer the 
lasting effects of the 2004 tsunami for many more years to come. 
JARDINE