With reference to typical examples, assess why regional planning in India is important for island territories for their sustainable development.
Island territories—Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) and Lakshadweep—are ecologically fragile, space-limited, disaster-prone, and water-scarce. Regional planning aligns land–sea uses across islands, preventing piecemeal projects from breaching ecological thresholds.
Why crucial: (1) Carrying capacity-based tourism—Havelock/Neil (A&N) need caps on beds, wastewater norms, and reef-safe activities to protect coral ecosystems. (2) Hazard-informed zoning—cyclone, tsunami, and sea-level rise risk maps guide setbacks, stilted structures, and mangrove buffers. (3) Freshwater security—island aquifers are thin; integrated plans for rainwater harvesting, desalination where necessary, and leakage control are lifelines. (4) Biodiversity and biosecurity—endemic species demand protected areas and strict controls on invasive species, ballast water, and inter-island movement. (5) Livelihoods—community-centric fisheries management, tuna longline limits, mariculture zones, and value-chain infrastructure reduce pressure on reefs while raising incomes. (6) Low-carbon energy and waste—solar–battery microgrids, decentralized waste segregation/composting prevent diesel dependence and marine litter. (7) Connectivity—appropriately scaled jetties, roll-on/roll-off ferries, and digital links integrate islands without overbuilding.
Examples show that where plans combine hazard zoning with wastewater treatment and reef protection, beaches recover and dive tourism remains viable; where resort sprawl and sand mining went unchecked, erosion and reef decline followed. Thus, a regional planning lens—land–coast–ocean integrated, community-led, and regulation-enforced—is indispensable to keep island economies prosperous without sacrificing the very ecosystems that sustain them.
Answered By:
Why cottage industries in India are an integral part of Indian socio-economic structure? Assess this with reference to different types of cottage industries in rural India.
"The rural settlements in India are highly diversified due to both physical and cultural factors." Justify the statement with examples.
How can rural-urban fringe be delineated? Explain with suitable examples from India.
"Spatial distribution of religious groups in India does not show any specific pattern." Illustrate with arguments.
"Watershed is the most appropriate spatial unit for planning." Comment.
Is North East India a geo-political or geo-cultural region? Justify your answer.
Discuss the necessary conditions for the cultivation of fox nuts and describe the areas of its production in India.
Describe the causes of the phenomenon of 'urban heat island'. What are the effective measures to deal with this phenomenon in India?
With reference to the transport and communication network of India, critically discuss the Sagarmala project.
What are the key features of sex-ratio of population in India ? Evaluate the impacts of child sex-ratio on general sex-ratio in the country.
How will you manage a case of misplaced copper-T (Cu-T)?
Describe the embryogenesis, clinical features and principles of management of cleft palate.
Write short notes in 150 words:
Metagenesis
Write short notes in 150 words:
Book lungs
Write short notes in 150 words:
Paedomorphosis