Dweep Tulika

Operators resume activities after temporary understanding; commission, staff-payment and long-term operating issues remain unresolved Swaraj Dweep , September 15, 2026: Water-sports activities at Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) resumed on Tuesday following discussions between local water-sports operators, boat owners, boat staff and the administration over booking arrangements , operational rights , licensing, safety requirements and livelihood concerns. The standoff reportedly followed the establishment of a new booking counter operated by Blue Fly at the water-sports location. Local operators and boat owners objected to the arrangement, expressing concern that it could affect the existing system through which they operate and earn from activities including snorkeling and other marine tourism services. Operators also raised concerns over commission-based earnings , particularly for boat staff whose income, according to stakeholders, includes commissions linked to water-sports activities....

29 Aug 2026, Sri Vijayapuram: The Aam Aadmi Party has announced a fresh organisational push in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands , with newly appointed State President Dr. Arun Kumar Mallik outlining a broad political and governance agenda at a public meeting held at Tiranga Park . The meeting marked what party leaders described as a renewed beginning for the AAP's organisation in the islands, which, according to the speakers, had remained largely inactive for several years. Dr. Mallik was introduced as the party's newly appointed State President for Andaman and Nicobar, with the appointment dated August 10, 2026. In his address, he said the immediate objective was not merely to expand the party politically but to build an organisation capable of identifying and taking up everyday problems faced by residents with the local administration. The meeting therefore went beyond an organisational announcement. Dr. Mallik used the platform to lay out a wide-ranging list of issues that ...

  Sri Vijaya Puram | August 31, 2026 Congress political leader Shri TSG Bhasker has raised serious concerns over the ongoing shortage of flight services to and from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands , highlighting the impact of reduced connectivity and rising airfares on tourism, local businesses, e-commerce and patients travelling to the mainland . Speaking during a press interaction, Bhasker described the situation as unprecedented, claiming that even during the COVID-19 period , the Islands had not witnessed such a prolonged disruption in air connectivity. “Even during COVID, we had not seen a situation like this.” He pointed to the limited number of flights currently operating and the sharp rise in airfares, arguing that the consequences are being felt across the wider Island economy . Tourism Industry Under Pressure According to TSG Bhasker, reduced flight services are directly affecting the tourism sector. He said the impact extends beyond hotels and tourism operato...

  Sri Vijaya Puram | August 26, 2026 The Andaman & Nicobar Islands has a unique economic challenge. Its geography makes many essential services expensive to provide, while its small and scattered population can make several commercial activities difficult for private companies to operate profitably. That is one reason government intervention remains necessary. But there is another side to the question. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited ( ANIIDCO ) is a government-owned corporation that does not merely perform administrative functions. Its stated objective includes developing and commercially exploiting the natural resources of the territory for balanced and environmentally friendly development. This raises an important public-policy question: When a government corporation participates in commercial activities and generates revenue, where is that commercial role justified—and how should Islanders benefit from it? ANIIDCO Was Cr...

Sri Vijaya Puram | August 12, 2026 By Dweep Tulika AAP Andaman & Nicobar Islands State President Dr Arun K. Mallik addressed a wide range of issues concerning the islands in an interview with Dweep Tulika , including the operation and mandatory use of weighbridges, transportation challenges in North and Middle Andaman , electoral practices, healthcare, tourism development, airfares and higher education . The interview covered several concerns raised by residents and transport operators, with questions focusing particularly on the difficulties faced by people living in geographically isolated areas of the islands. Weighbridge operation and mandatory inspections Dr Mallik said the issue of the weighbridge was brought to his attention by members of the truck and drivers' associations, who approached him regarding vehicles continuing to operate without consistently using the facility. According to him, the weighbridge had remained unused for a considerable period before becoming ...