Nancowry tehsil

Car Nicobar subdivision:

Car Nicobar tehsil
Nancowry tehsil covers all of the Nicobars except for Car Nicobar; it has two administrative centres, one on Kamorta and the other at Campbell Bay, each directed by a Deputy Commissioner.

Nicobar Islands

The Nicobar Islands are an island chain in the eastern Indian Ocean, and are part of India, located southeast of the Indian subcontinent, separated by the Bay of Bengal by about 1,300 km. This Island is situated in the South-east of the Bay of Bengal between 6 degree - 10 degree N latitude and between 92 degree- 94 degree E longitude. The Nicobars are separated from the Andaman Islands to the north by the 150 km wide Ten Degree Channel and are 189 km from the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the southeast. The Andaman and Nicobar islands separate the Bay of Bengal from the Andaman Sea. The Nicobar islands include 22 islands of various sizes, the largest being Great Nicobar. The total land area of the chain is 1841 sq. km. The highest point on the Nicobars is Mount Thullier at 642 m. The most northerly island of the group is Car Nicobar, which is 143 miles from Port Blair and the ten degree channel about 75 miles separate in from Little Andaman. Chowra, Teressa, Bompoka, Katchal, Kamorta, Nancowry and Trinket form the central group of Nicobar islands ; while in the southern group are Pulo Milo, Little Nicobar, Kondul, Great Nicobar and so on. The extreme southern point of Great Nicobar, previously known as Pygmalion Point and now Indira Point, is about 91 geographical miles from Pulo Brass of Achin Head of Sumatra. The uninhabited islands in the central and southern group are Batti Malv, Tileangchong and Meroe, Trak, Treis, Menchal and Kabra respectively. The Nicobars stretch over 36 miles, with an aggregate of 635 sq. miles. Falling between the sea route from South India / Sri Lanka to South East Asia and vice-vers, the voyagers referred it as "land of the nake" i.e. Nakkavar which is perhaps the direct Predecessor of the current name "Nicobar'.

Administration

District of Nicobar came into existence on 1st of August , 1974. Before this, it was a part of District of Andamans. It is headed by DEPUTY COMMISSIONER stationed at Car Nicobar. The District is having 2 sub-divisions viz. Car Nicobar and Nancowry. The second sub-division has jurisdiction over all islands of the district except Car Nicobar. However, for smooth functioning of the administration, it is divided into three circles under the supervision and control of Assistant Commissioners who work directly under Deputy Commissioner.

People

The population of the islands was 42,026 in 2001, roughly 65% of whom are indigenous peoples (the Nicobarese and Shompen peoples, listed among the Scheduled Tribes of India), and 35% migrants from India and Sri Lanka. The District consists of 2 tribes namely - Nicobari and Shompen. Nicobari constitutes the larger part and they reside in all the inhabitant Islands of the District. Shompen is Semi - Nomadic tribe, and reside only in certain pockets of Great Nicobar Island. The Primary occupation of the tribal population is agriculture, which is basically limited to cocunut, arecanut and banana plantations.

Climate

The climate is warm and tropical, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 30° C. Rainfall is heavy due to annual monsoons and measures around 3000 to 3800 mm each year. The vegetation of the Nicobars is typically divided into the coastal mangrove forests and the interior evergreen and deciduous Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. Additionally, several islands contain extensive interior grasslands, though these are thought to result from human intervention. The Nicobar islands are recognized as a distinct terrestrial ecoregion, the Nicobar Islands rain forests, with many endemic species.

How to reach

Nicobar district is connected to Port Blair with ship as well as air. Car Nicobar the district head quarter is 250 kms. away from Port Blair. Nicobar district (except Campbell Bay) is a restricted area. Any one who is interested in visiting this district would require obtaining a LANDING PERMIT from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Andaman District. (03192-233089).

Ship service is available between Port Blair and Nicobar district. Normally ship is available twice in a week. One can obtain the ship ticket from the office of the Director, Shipping services (03192-230480) at Port Blair.