Inner Line Permit expected to check influx

Port Blair, Nov 01 (UNI) With the recent assurance of Union Law and Justice Minister Dr H R Bhardwaj to take up the matter of enforcing Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, the influx of people in the islands is expected to be brought under control.

The matter of the ILP was raised recently at New Delhi during a conference by Executive Chairman of Legal Aid Services of the West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Circle Dr Madhu Krishan before the minister.

''We need a system like the Northeastern states to check the influx of illegal immigrants and assurance from the Union Minister in this regard has provided relief,'' Dr Krishan told UNI today over phone from New Delhi.

People and NGOs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had been demanding the implementation of the ILP since the past few years.

The Supreme Court had also ordered to enforce ILP on May seven, 2002, after the matter was strongly recommended by the Shekhar Singh Commission.

''It is surprising that even after Supreme Court's clear orders, issued five years ago, the local administration has not followed the same,'' Media Coordinator of the Island Sangathan Manch R P Sharma told UNI.

Mr Sharma said the assurance of the Union Minister was welcomed by the islanders, who were suffering from the uncontrolled influx of illegal migrants.

Problems like scarcity of water and other natural resources were being faced by the people, he added.

UNI