005- Apr 3 Katchatheevu Returns to Spotlight – Tamil Nadu’s Call for Reclamation
Polity, International Relations, Federalism, Governance, Tamil Nadu Affairs
By IAS Monk / April 3, 2025
🌊 What Sparked the Resolution?
- Tamil Nadu Assembly passed unanimous resolution urging India to reclaim Katchatheevu
- Triggered by frequent arrests of Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy
- CM MK Stalin led the demand, citing livelihood concerns & historical grievances
🧭 Where is Katchatheevu?
- Small island in the Palk Strait, ~33 hectares
- Lies between Rameswaram (India) and Jaffna (Sri Lanka)
- Once used by fisherfolk from both nations freely
📜 The 1974 & 1976 Agreements
| Year | Key Provision |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Island handed to Sri Lanka; Indian fishermen could rest/dry nets & attend St. Anthony’s festival without visa—but not fish there |
| 1976 | Exclusive fishing rights defined; India and Sri Lanka to respect territorial waters & EEZs—Tamil Nadu not consulted |
🔥 Current Conflicts
- Fish depletion in Indian waters pushes fishermen closer to Sri Lanka
- Use of trawlers by Indian fishermen raises ecological and legal concerns
- Sri Lankan Navy responds with arrests, seizures, and sometimes violence
- Post-2009: Tighter patrols to prevent LTTE re-infiltration escalated enforcement
🧑⚖️ What’s the Centre’s Stand?
- India claims Katchatheevu was not ceded, as it was never fully under Indian control
- Recognizes the 1974 agreement placing island on Sri Lankan side
- Continues diplomatic pressure, but says issue is sub judice in Supreme Court
📚 Relevance for UPSC
- GS2: India’s Neighbourhood Relations, Federal Challenges
- GS1: Geography of Islands & Borders
- Essay: “Between two shores lies a single cry – of a boat, a belief, and a boundary drawn in salt.”
✨ Closing Whisper
“An island forgotten by cartographers, remembered by every calloused hand that cast a net and waited. Katchatheevu is not just a place—it is a plea floating between two nations.”
🔥 A Thought Spark – by IAS Monk
When treaties ignore tides, the fishermen suffer.
And when boundaries forget to ask the boatman, what follows is not peace—it is protest with an oar.
