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Area : 32 sq km
Population : 60,650
Capital : Kavaratti
Principal Languages : Jeseri (Dweep Bhasha) and Mahal
Not much is known about the
early history of these islands. The islands that
were supposed to have been inhabited first are
Amini, Andrott, Kavaratti, and Agatti. It was
earlier believed that the islanders were
originally Hindus, and later converted to Islam
under the influence of Arab traders, sometime in
the 14th century. But Archaeological evidences
unearthed indicate that there were Buddhist
settlements around the 6th or 7th century.
Earliest Muslim converts or settlers pre-date
the year 139 AH of the Hijra year (eighth
century), of which period grave stones have
recently been discovered in Agatti. This would
tend to bear out the traditional belief that
Islam was brought to the Island by Arab Saint,
Ubaidulla in 41 AH.
Probably independent till 16th century, the
Islands were driven to seek the assistance of
Raja of Chirakal to help them avert
establishment of Portuguese domination. This
enabled him to establish his authority, and
later, the islands were transferred in
jaggier to Ali Raja, head of Moplah
community in Cannanore, who later became an
independent ruler himself. The Arakkal rule was
not popular and in 1787, Tipu Sultan acceded to
the petitions of the Northern islands to annex
these islands. After the fall of Tipu Sultan,
the Islands were passed to East India Company,
but continued to be ruled de facto by
the rulers of Cannanore, till their ultimate
annexation by the British in the early 20th
century. In 1956, the islands were constituted
into a single territory, and since then, have
been directly administered by the Union
Government through an Administrator. The Laccadives, Minicoy and Amindivi group of
islands were renamed as Lakshadweep in 1973.
Lakshadweep, a group of coral islands consist of
12 atolls, three reefs and submerged sand banks.
Of the 27 islands, only 11 are inhabited. These
lie scattered in the Arabian Sea about 280 km to
480 km off Kerala coast between 8°
and 12° 3' North
Latitude and 71° and
74° East Longitude.
Coconut is the only major crop with a
production of 553 lakh nuts per year. The area
under cultivation is about 2,669 hectares.
Lakshadweep coconut is branded as an organic
product. In India, Lakshadweep stands first in
coconut production, and productivity per hector
is 19,667 per ha, and average yield per palm per
year is 97 nuts. The Lakshadweep coconuts are
the highest oil content nuts in the world (82
per cent).
Fishing is another major activity.
The sea around the island is highly productive.
The islands stand first in the country in per
capita availability of fish. During 2004, 10,300
tonnes of fish have been landed in this U.T.
Coconut
fibre extraction and conversion of its fibre
products is the main industry in the islands.
Under Government Sector, there are seven coir fibre factories, seven coir production cum
demonstration centers, and four fibre curling
units, functioning under coir sector. These
units produce coir fibre and coir yarn in
addition to other coir products like curled
fibre, corridor mat, mat and mattings. Small
coir units are also functioning under private
sector in different islands.
At present M.V. Sultan, M.V. Bharat
Seema, M.V. Dweep Setu, M.V. Amindivi and M.V.
Minicoy handles the passenger traffic in
mainland-island and interisland sector. Two
inter-island ferry vessels M.V. Khadeeja Beevi
and M.V. Hameedath Bee Provide connectivity
between the Islands except Minicoy island with
Kavaratti as base port. The cargo traffic in
this sector are handled with four cargo harges
namely M.V. Ubaidulla, M.V. Thinnakara, M.V.
Lacadives and M.V. Cheriyam. Further one Oil
Barge M.V. Suheli (60 MT) is being utilised for
providing bunker to inter-island ferries.
Besides, the Administration operates an
ambulance helicopter service between the islands
and to mainland and Indian Airlines connects
Agatti island and Kochi daily except
Sundays.
The 15 years Perspective Plan for shipping
requirements in UTL approved by the Ministry of
Shipping. Government of India has recommended
for acquisition of 3x150 passenger high speed
vessels, 2x250 passenger cum 100 Mt Cargo ships,
one 100/150 MT Oil Barge, one LPG cylinder ship,
eight Landing Barges, one 400 passenger ship and
two Bullard Tugs. Further the Government of
India has also sanctioned 3x50 passenger and one
15 passenger high sped inter-island fries under
PMGSY scheme. Out of the above Administration
has placed construction orders for 3x150
passenger, 3x50 passenger and one 15 passenger
high speed vessels and one 10T Bullard Tug. The
Bullard Tug has been delivered on 9 May 2006 and
and will be put in operation shortly. The 15
passenger and 150 passenger vessels are to be
delivered by June 2006, November 2006 and
February 2007 respectively. As recommended in
the Perspective Plan it is proposed to acquire
2x250 passenger vessels, six Landing barges, one
150 MT Oil barge, one Bullard Tug and one LPG
cylinder ship duirng 2006-07 and 400 Passenger
ship and two Landing Barges during 2007-08
Tourism in Lakshadweep is
developing into an important industry. Important
tourist places are Agatti, Bangaram, Kalpeni,
Kadmat, Kavaratti and Minicoy, etc. 11730
Tourists visited the islands in 2005 of which
713 are Foreign Tourists.
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