Katchatheevu Island

Why in news?

• Recently, during Prime Minister’s visit to Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has asked for retrieval of Katchatheevu Island from Sri lanka

About Katchatheevu Island:

• It is an uninhabited off-shore island in the Palk Strait originally owned by a king of Ramnad (present-day Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu).
• The island is used by fishermen to dry their nets.

History:

• During the British rule, it was administered jointly by India and Sri Lanka.
• In the early 20th century, Sri Lanka claimed territorial ownership over the islet, so in 1974 India ceded the island to Sri Lanka, through a joint agreement.
• Two years later through another accord, India further gave up its fishing rights in the region.
• Initially the 1974 border agreement did not affect fishing on either side of the border.
• In 1976, through an exchange of letters, both India and Sri Lanka agreed to stop fishing in each other’s waters.
• In 1974 and 1976 treaties were signed between the two countries to demarcate the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
• However, the agreement could not stop the fishermen from fishing in these waters, as fishermen know no boundary.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Katchatheevu Island, sometimes seen in news, is part of:

(a) Myanmar

(b) Maldives

(c) Bangladesh

(d) Sri Lanka

Answer – D