Lakshadweep Infrastructure | Business Opportunities | Tourism
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Lakshadweep is the smallest union territory in India, with a total land area of 32 square kilometers. In this 44 percent of the population lives in rural areas, while 56 percent of the population lives in urban areas. Lakshadweep is a group of about 27 islands, of which only 11 are inhabited. These coral islands consist of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 6 submerged sand banks. They are irregulary scattered in the Arabian sea and lie about 220 to 440 kilometers from the coastal city of Kochi, Kerala State. These islands are linked with Kochi by ferry, helicopter and plane services.
Lakshadweep is ony coral reef island in India and is rich in flora and fauna. Due to its beautiful beaches and pollution free enviornment, It has become a top tourist destination for water sports and fishing.
The people of this union territory are mainly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Coconut is the only major crop here while fishing is another mainstary. Lakshadweep is not an industrially developed territory but there are a few small enterprises such as boat building, tuna canning, coir yarn spinning, fiber factory, bakeries, hosiery factory, vinegar and unrefined sugar production. Some industries like oil and flour milling and furniture making are managed as co-operatives. The administration of Lakshadweep has been trying to attract investors into the economy. It has undertaken serveral policy measures and incentives for the overall improvement of the territory.
Business Opportunities
The Lakshadweep islands are considered an important ecological asset in terms of biodiversity of marine life. Perceiving big potential for the state in the tourism industry, the government is carefully taking steps to promote ecotourism to preserve the natural environment while giving a boost to the industry.
Agriculture
More than 90 percent of the territory's population depends upon agriculture. Coconut is the only major crop with a production of 65 million nuts per year. The Lakshadweep coconut is branded as an organic product and its productivity is highest in India amounting to 22310 coconuts per hectare. Many crops like pulses, solanaceous, cucurbitacious, and tuber crops can be grown successfully in the coconut gardens as inter crops without irrigation during the southwest monsoon period. However, ther is no major irrigation system as there are no rivers or canals.
Fisheries
Fishing is another major activity. Other than coconut cultivation, fisheries has become the main source of income of the people of Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep has a coast line of 132 kilometers. The sea around the island is highly procutive. The islands stand first in India in per capita availability of fish, mainly skipjack tuna. The estimated potential resources of the sea around Lakshadweep are about 100,000 tons of tuna and shark respectively.
Small-scale industries
Coconut fiber extraction and conversion of its fiber products is the main industry in the islands. Under government ownership, there are seven coir fiber factories, five coir production cum demonstarion centers, and seven fiber-curling units, functioning under coir sector. These units produce coir fiber and coir yarn in addition to other coir products like curled fiber and corridor matting. A few coir twisting units also function in the private sector.
Tourism
Tourism in Lakshadweep plays a vital role in generating income and employement as well as promoting overall development of the Islands. Important tourist places are Agatti, Bangaram, Kalpeni, Kadmat, Kavaratti and Minicoy. The vat expanses of the shallow lagoons provide an ideal setting for water sports enthusiasts. Private investors are encouraged to take part in the tourism industry.
Infrastructure
Roadways
The Lakshadweep Public Works Department is in charge of construction and manintenance of roads on the islands although both road and rail network is higly limited in the territory. Approximately 167 kilometers of roadway is constructed and 70 link roads crossing various islands are undergoing construction.
Aviation
Agatti is the only airport in Lakshadweep. Helicopter transfer is available from Agatti to Bangaram Island Resort during monsoon season and to Kavaratti throughout the year. The Govt. of India has recently approved provision of the second helicopter for transporting patients, inter-island passenger service, and for other emergency services. The flight from Cochin to Agatti takes approximately one and half hours and it operates six days a work.
Waterways
Water is the main mode of transportation between the islands and mainland. Three all weather ships and three fair weather ships with limited cargo capacity , two inter-island mainland and eight inter-island speed boats, four cargo barges and one oil carrier were available from 2009. Four passenger ships, MV Tippu sultan, MV Bharat Seema, MV Amindivi and MV Minicoy operate between Cochin and Lakshadweep. They handle the passenger traffic between the mainland and the islands and as well as inter-island transportation.
Power
Every home in the island has been electrified. Because diesel the main mode of electricity generation, is expensive and environmentally harmful, the govt. has begun to shift their energy source to renewal energy like setting up wind farms and turbines. The islands of Lakshadweep receive abudant sunlight throughout the year except during monsoon providing an ideal opportunity for the use of solar poser. During monsoon season where is a lot of wind transporting diesel will become even more difficult while makes wind energy a much more difficult which makes wind energy a much better altertanive to produce electricity.
Telecommunication
IT and communication Technology has played an important role in enhancing connectivity between geographically dispersed islands.
Resources
Official Website - http://lakshadweep.nic.in/
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