ANC has grown manifold in the past 15 years and we are fully geared to meet all challenges ahead of us: CINCAN
Port Blair, Oct. 7: India’s first and only unified command, the Andaman and Nicobar Command will be celebrating its 15th Raising Day on 8th Oct. 2015. It was on this date that the first unified command was setup with Army, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard under one head i.e. the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command.
On the occasion of the Raising Day, Vice Admiral PK Chatterjee PVSM, AVSM, NM, Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) addressing the media elaborated on the growth of the ANC during the past one and a half decade, its responsibility towards the locals and the nation at large and also gave a brief account of establishment of the Defence Forces in the islands.
The CINCAN said, “Going through the historical perspective, we all know about now the footprints of the Armed Forces in these pristine Islands have been growing since Independence, with an airstrip built by the Japanese at Car Nicobar, which was operationalised by the Indian Air Force in 1956 as a starting point. After the 1962 Conflict, the Indian Navy established a naval garrison here at Port Blair, which subsequently grew into the Fortress Andaman and Nicobar in 1976. Finally, post Kargil, our Government placed all forces located in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands including the Coast Guard under the Commander-in-Chief of the newly created Andaman & Nicobar Command, thereby forming this Unified Command. Today, we have defence forces presence covering the entire stretch of islands from East Island in the North to Campbell Bay in the South”.
Talking about the strategic importance of the islands due to its geographical location, Vice Admiral PK Chatterjee said, “The Andaman & Nicobar Islands also is of Strategic importance to the nation due to their location at the confluence of vital sea lines of communication. We have almost 30% of the country’s EEZ with us. The rich sources of marine wealth, potential for oil and natural gas, a growing tourist destination on the global arena and proximity to the littorals make its importance greater. Also, various stakeholders including Extra Regional Forces and our littoral neighbours have displayed growing interest in the Indian Ocean, Creation and up gradation of maritime assets by these countries has picked up pace simultaneously. Thus, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, like any other part of our country are vulnerable to varied threats – both conventional and sub-conventional. India’s ‘Act East Policy’, has added more significance to these islands which could act as a spring board. On the other hand these islands would act as a maritime frontier of the East when we look at its disposition vis-a-vis our mainland on the West and the foreign land mass very close by on the East”.
Explaining the role and responsibilities and the achievements of the Command in the past 15 years, the Vice Admiral said, “With these strategic importance and challenges, Andaman and Nicobar Command has a clearly defined role to play. Safeguarding these emerald islands as well as India’s maritime boundaries and airspace, search and rescue operations at sea, anti-poaching operations, vigil against human trafficking and illegal migration and disaster management are important tasks assigned to us.
“The challenges before us are somewhat different from that on the mainland. Incidents of poaching and human trafficking are cause of concern. The year 2013 saw 93 apprehensions of poachers, with human trafficking apprehensions at an all time high of 1353. However, due to 24x7 surveillance of the seas and coastal areas by our Navy and Coast Guard, along with the A&N Administration, cases of poaching and human trafficking apprehensions were restricted to a great extent this year as well. We have had 27 poachers apprehended this year and no cases of human trafficking apprehensions.
“We also need to address the threat from illegal immigrants, which could be a cause of social unrest in times to come. Growing imprints of fundamentalist organisation and unabated terrorist acts in our littoral neighbours necessitate continued monitoring and preparedness on our part. Building better infrastructure to support the assets of the Command – both existing and accretions likely in the future as well as assets from the mainland is therefore prime importance, to be undertaken on top priority. However, with almost 90% of area declared as forest and with environment protection related issues, infrastructure development is a major challenge.
“In order to fulfil these onerous tasks bestowed on us, we have a well-defined organisational structure. We amalgamate and synergise the working of the four components i.e. Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard under the Unified Command, resulting in optimum utilization of resources and an integrated approach towards our roles and responsibilities. The seamless integration of all elements in the recently held Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Management Exercise, Jal Suraksha, 10 SAR Operations carried out this year for personnel as well as missing vessels of the local populace, evacuation of civilian medical casualties from Campbell Bay and other remote areas, and transportation of more than 400 passengers stranded at Port Blair and Hut Bay in May this year by empowering three ships are some examples of joint operations that we have recently undertaken”.
The CINCAN further explained that the Command has also played a crucial role in Defence Diplomacy through Co-ordinated Patrols of CORPATs with our littorals. “These exercises, as you are aware, are an area for extending our defence diplomacy and to promote goodwill among neighbouring and participating nations. The successful conduct of CORPATs with Myanmar, Indonesia and Thailand was a perfect example of synergy achieved with the navies of our littoral neighbours”.
“It is indeed a great responsibility on the ANC to ensure the Coastal and EEZ of our islands. In order to meet these challenges we carry our regular exercises involving 16 agencies with periodic enhancement of the scope and scale. Apart from this, we have regular Jan Pehchan patrols for area patrolling of various islands and interaction with islanders”, he said.
“Equally important is our role in Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Management”, said the CINCAN explaining that these islands have witnessed one of the most devastating disasters of recent times.
“We have procured specialist equipment such as JCBs, bulldozers, mobile cranes and tractors authorised by GOI exclusively for ANC. The equipment has been positioned with various Defence units across the islands. Training on specialist equipment has also been carried out. Additional gensets and lighting equipment, potable water plants, chemical toilets and bedding and equipment for Relief Camps are also being procured. Also, we undertake regular disaster relief exercises in consonance with Civil Administration and INCOIS”.
With regard to supporting the local populace, the Vice Admiral said, “We have also taken many steps towards supporting the local population. The TA Battalion is primarily constituted of the local youth. We have enhanced economic development through award of various contracts to local vendors, empowered the youth through pre-employment training, conducted medical camps at far flung islands and our continued support to the ex-servicemen are examples of some of our efforts to shoulder the responsibility of warfare of local population”.
“The Andaman and Nicobar Command has grown manifold in terms of assets and manpower over the years and we are growing in our stature everyday”, said the CINCAN.
Highlighting the achievements of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the CINCAN said, “First and foremost is the integration of our four components into one cohesive unit. Infrastructure development inspite of the constraints and challenges, is another major achievement. Furthering defence diplomacy through coordinated patrols with littorals and biennial Milan adds a feather to our cap. Through various drills and exercises, we are today wholly prepared to meet any challenges of the natural disasters. With synergised approach involving the civil administration and local population we have grown leaps and bounds in coastal and EEZ security preparedness.
The CINCAN concluding his address to the media has reassured that the Andaman and Nicobar Command is fully geared to meet all challenges ahead of us and will continue to render yeoman services to the islands in particular and to the nation in general.