By IANS
New Delhi : A committee of experts Sunday expressed serious concern over the impact of the population influx into Andaman and Nicobar islands on the primitive tribal groups (PTGs) there.
At its first meeting here, the committee, set up by the ministry of tribal affairs, recommended immediate steps to restrict the influx and chalk out separate polices and action for the five PTGs comprising Jarawas, Shompen, Great Andamanese, Onges and Sentinelese.
The meeting chaired by the tribal affairs secretary felt that the vehicular traffic on the Andaman Trunk road passing through the Jarawa Reserve should be replaced by a sea route and construction work on the road which runs through middle of Great Nicobar be stopped immediately.
The experts felt there was lack of sensitivity amongst the people in the islands regarding the condition of the PTGs. They are being seen as a "curiosity item" and that due to the adverse impact of the various activities on these groups, they are on the brink of extinction, the ministry said in a release.