Andaman College Row

Proposed ANCOL at Chakkargaon contravenes Master Plan – 2030

There has been a large hue and cry ever since it has been made public that the proposed Govt college namely ANCOL (Andaman College) will have its permanent campus at Chakkargaon in Port Blair. Members of the public, elected representatives, political organizations and their likes had opined that since Port Blair town already has one Govt college (JNRM) of the same type, the second one be established in rural area. The views expressed by the public however did not cut ice with the bureaucratic set up governing the islands. In a bid to assert itself the project proponents chose to overlook public demand and in doing so, it contravened the development regulations propounded in the Master Plan for Port Blair Planning Area – 2030.

Notified in December 2011, the Master Plan for Port Blair Planning Area (PBPA) rightly observes that Port Blair over the years engages manifold functions and activities because of which the town experiences a relatively high density and development spread over municipal area in an unplanned and sporadic manner. It also says that gross density of Port Blair as on 2010 is 60 PPH (Persons per hectare) which is expected to reach 132 PPH in the next 20 years. As this density is much above the standards (UDPFI guidelines suggest 60–90 PPH for hill town) it is necessary to develop additional areas outside Port Blair. Therefore activities in Port Blair, needs to be regulated and decentralized elsewhere within the Planning Area.

Taking note of the unique characteristics of the surrounding region of Port Blair and the constraints in terms of land form and linkages, the development regulation makes it clear that Port Blair Town can no longer accommodate additional infrastructure in higher education sector due to severe land constraints. However keeping in view the long term development needs of the society, the regulation provides that higher educational facilities need to be established in outer areas like Ograbraj for facilitating spatially balanced development.

The urge to take development to areas outside Port Blair reverberated in the Honble LG’s address during laying the foundation for a Multipurpose Indoor Stadium at Knappuram village in Wimberly Gunj on June 18, 2014. Much to the delight of the rural populace gathered in huge number at the venue, the LG said demand to establish Andaman College (ANCOL) in Bambooflat/Wimberly Gunj area is genuine as it will benefit many rural students. However whatever happened on the ground is seen as departure from what has been said or set out in the Master Plan - 2030.

A press release in the state media said permanent campus of ANCOL will come up at Chakkargaon. Another release said for identifying a suitable site for the permanent campus for ANCOL wide consultation with public representatives, officers of concerned department, educationists and other stakeholder was done. The Member of Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray however finding it in contrast, publicly objected and distanced himself from the decision. Similarly, dissent has been put forth by the Chairperson Zilla Parishad (SA) Miss V K Mariam Bibi and the State President BJP Shri Vishal Jolly. In a rare gesture, office bearers of prominent political organizations and elected representatives, cutting across party lines unequivocally urged the Administration to review its decision and consider Ferrar Gunj tahsil as the site for permanent campus for the proposed ANCOL. Sidelining such requests from public and their elected representatives, a decision is known to have been taken to set-up ANCOL at Port Blair which already has three degree level colleges (JNRM, TGCE & DBRAIT).

Reasons cited for going against are many and each of those contradicts the other. Latest one in the series has been added by the Hon’ble Lt Governor himself. In a recent interview to Zubair Ahmed of Light of Andamans, he said “decision to locate the college at Chakkargaon was based on the opinion by APWD that building cannot be completed by next academic session. The land at different locations examined by the Admin either were not meeting the mandatory requirements or had CRZ issues requiring more than 5 months to clear. And there was ultimatum from Pondicherry University to withdraw the affiliation if we do not have the next batch.”

The question that comes to mind is can time constraint or for that matter anything else be cited to contravene development regulation, particularly when the Master Plan had already delved on the specific issue and stated that Port Blair town can no longer accommodate additional infrastructure in higher education sector. Perhaps nothing can justify having ANCOL within Port Blair limits, unless contempt is ruling the minds! As far as accommodating fresh batch of students are concerned, it cannot come in the way since there are options on the platter. The teaching faculties doing a commendable job by serving ANCOL on diverted capacity could be motivated to run the college in two shifts. I am sure those in the noble profession of teaching would surely take up this as a challenge in the interest of the institution. Further if need arise there are a few un-utilised Govt buildings in the city which could be occupied and fresh batch be accommodated there for the time being.

It is for sure that after ANCOL, next few generations will not see another college coming up. Therefore such an important development initiative cannot and should not be taken in haste, nor could it be based on what a particular group says or thinks. Opinion expressed by the islanders (including their elected representatives) need to be taken on board since they are the ones who are going to inherit it. Rural areas having ample land resources and target population deserves to be included in Govt’s development initiatives. Benefits which the city counterpart hitherto enjoys must percolate to rural population as well – because I believe India lives in rural areas.