In news- Recently, Mauritius has denied a report that it has allowed India to build a military base on the remote island of Agalega.
A brief note on the issue
- An Al Jazeera article showed satellite pictures to report that two large jetties and a 3-km-long runway was being built in Agalega, located about 1,100 km from Mauritius’ main island.
- The report said that the airstrip will “almost certainly” be used for maritime patrol missions by India’s Navy.
About Agalega Island
- Agalega are outer islands of Mauritius located in the Indian Ocean, about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) north of Mauritius island.
- The population of the islands as at July 2011 was estimated at 300.
- The islands have a total area of 2,600 ha (6,400 acres).
- The North Island is home to the islands’ airstrip and the capital Vingt Cinq.
- The islands are known for their coconuts, the production of which is their main industry, and for the Agalega day gecko.
- There is a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU)between the governments of Mauritius and India to develop the Agaléga islands and resolve infrastructural problems faced by Agaleans.
Source: The Hindu
