The high-speed ferry, Cheriyapani, had been connecting islands in Lakshadweep before it was taken away to sail between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai.
The high speed ferry Cheriyapani at nagapattinam coast. Photo: Supplied.
India resumed the ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in the northern province of Sri Lanka on 14 October with much fanfare — and to the chagrin of the residents of Lakshadweep.
The ferry service that resumed after four decades heralded a new chapter in diplomatic and economic relations between India and Sri Lanka. It also marked the beginning of more travel woes in Lakshadweep, the country’s smallest Union Territory.
While the high-speed ferry will foster goodwill between the two neighbours besides meeting the travel needs of people in Tamil Nadu, how it has been implemented has sparked widespread concern and outrage in Lakshadweep, an archipelago of 36 islands in the Arabian Sea.
An island in Lakshadweep. (KA Shaji/South First)
The islanders have been demanding adequate connectivity between the islands and the mainland ports of Kochi and Beypore in Kerala.
Ignoring the objections of the people, the Union government took away Cheriyapani, the high-speed boat that was used for inter-island transportation in Lakshadweep. The ferry is now sailing between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai.
Currently disqualified local MP Muhammed Faizal Padippura — who is awaiting the reinstatement of his Lok Sabha membership for a second time following a favourable Supreme Court ruling on 10 October — termed the decision to shift the vessel to Tamil Nadu discriminatory and against natural justice.
Cheriyapani was one of three high-speed vessels that facilitated inter-island services in Lakshadweep, as well as providing services to Kochi on the mainland.
The three vessels had a combined capacity of 450 passengers, but that was insufficient in light of the increasing travel needs of the islanders.
The archipelago is currently reliant on Valiyapani and Parali, the remaining two high-speed ferries with a combined capacity of 300 passengers.
“It is a matter of joy for the country that the ferry service to a neighbouring nation has been resumed after nearly four decades. We are particularly pleased that the boat service will greatly help the Tamil diaspora,” Faizal, who belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP, told South First.
“However, the greater question is why the Union government has taken away our Cheriyapani to resume operations without purchasing a better-equipped boat. We are entitled to equal justice,” he stated.
Children of a Lakshadweep island. (Supplied)
According to Lakshadweep officials, the high-speed ferry used to sail to the archipelago’s farthest island, Minicoy.
Besides the high-speed ferries, there are three inter-island ferries with a combined carrying capacity of 150 people. However, they are not authorised to sail to Minicoy or the mainland.
The schedules of five ships connecting the archipelago with Kochi are irregular, causing much hardship to the residents who are dependent on the mainland for their daily needs, education and medical care.
Two of these ships can carry 250 passengers each, while two others can ferry 400 passengers each at a time. MV Kavaratti can accommodate 700 passengers.
In the absence of timely connectivity, the islanders are now forced to borrow or dig into their meagre resources to find lodging on rent in Kochi and Beypore in Kozhikode — gateways to the Lakshadweep archipelago — until they secure passage on the next available ship.
Every day, people crowd the Lakshadweep administrative offices in these two port cities for a ticket to sail. On most days, they return disappointed.
Muslims account for almost 96 percent of the estimated 69,000 population of the archipelago, which lies 200 km to 440 km off the Kerala coast in the Arabian sea.
The people of the archipelago have been at odds with the Union Territory’s administration ever since the appointment of Praful Khoda Patel as administrator by the BJP-led Union government.
A Gujarat politician who is said to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Patel was appointed administrator in December 2020. He is the first politician to be appointed to a post that is usually held by IAS officers.
Apart from making their travel more difficult, the administration has taken a few other steps that have angered the locals.
In August, the administration issued new dress code directive for schools — which was silent on hijabs or scarves for girl students — prompting Lakshadweep Congress leader and ex-MP Hamdullah Sayeed to state that it amounted to destroying the intrinsic culture and lifestyle of the islanders.
“We will not allow any such directive that will destroy the culture and existing lifestyle of Lakshadweep. Such impositions are part of attempts to create unwanted tensions and issues in a democratic system,” the ex-MP had told PTI.
The Lakshadweep administration had earlier decided to permit liquor outlets in the archipelago. A draft of the proposed Excise Regulation Bill was published in this regard on 3 August seeking suggestions from the public.
The draft Bill, aimed at permitting the sale and consumption of liquor in the archipelago, had drawn widespread criticism from various quarters.
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