Port Blair, Aug. 31: The Member of Parliament, Shri. Bishnu Pada Ray’s has once again placed the issue of Buffer Zone and PAT Regulation in the floor of the Parliament. In his unstarred Question No. 1465, the MP has asked the Minister of Home, Whether 5 km. from high tide line from Constance Bay in South Andaman to Lewis Inlet Bay in Middle Andaman, has been declared as Tribal Reserve. He also asked whether any fishermen who go fishing in this area would be punished as per the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Amendment regulation 2012 and if so, the quantum of the punishment.
Replying to the question of the Member of Parliament, Shri. Mullapally Ramachandran, Minister of State for Home Affairs said, “In order to increase the source of Jarawas, notification dated 15th September, 2004 was issued by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration declaring certain land areas in South And Middle Andaman and Coastal waters up to a distance of 5 Km as Reserved areas.
The MOS further said that whoever enters into the Reserved Areas for the purpose of encroaching from the said areas shall be punished under Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal tribes) Amendment regulation 2012 with imprisonment, which may extend to three years and with fine, which may extend to rupees ten thousand.