|
Lakshadweep
The enchanting group
of coral islands in the Arabian Sea form the smallest Union Territory
of Lakshadweep. This archipelago consists of 12 atolls, three reefs and
five submerged banks. Of its 36 islands covering an area of 32Sq.Km only
10 are inhabited. They are Adroit, Amini, Agatti, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat,
Kalpeni, Kavaratti (Headquarters), Kiltan and Minicoy. Bitra is the smallest
of all. These islands earlier known as Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi
islands are irregularly scattered between 8o and 12o30' North latitude
and between 71o and 74o east longitude.
Lakshadweep lies about 220 to 440 Km from the coastal city of Cochin
in Kerala. These islands and Cochin are linked by ship which takes about
18 to 20 hours and by air. The islands which were administered at various
places were grouped into a Union Territory in 1956 and the name of this
Union Territory was changed to Lakshadweep with effect from November
1, 1973. In 1964 the administration had shifted to Kavaratti island.
Though smallest in area, the Union Territory of Lakshadweep has extensive
lagoon area of about 4,200Sq.Km, 20000Sq Km of territorial waters and
about four lakh Sq Km of economic zone. The territory has tremendous
economic potentialities because of extensive economic zone.
Malayalam is the language spoken in all islands except Minicoy
where people speak Mahl written in Divehi which is spoken in Maldives
also. The entire local population because of their economic and
social condition have been classified as scheduled Tribes. Scheduled
Castes exist in Lakshadweep group of islands.
|
