London, July 26 - Critics of a hotel project in the Andamans say the plan seems deliberately aimed at putting tourists at close range to the threatened Jarawa tribals, a newspaper reported Sunday.

The Jarawas are meant to be protected by the Indian government, but have come under increasing pressure from encroachments into their natural habitat in recent years. Their numbers have dwindled today to a mere 320.

Now, the London-based Survival International, which campaigns for the rights of indigenous people across the world, has hit out at plans to build a luxury resort at the edge of the Jarawas' protected forest.

The company building the resort, Barefoot - founded by former London investment banker Samit Sawhney - says it is socially responsible.

Resorts built by Barefoot have included such high-profile clients as Hollywood star Kate Winslet.

But a Survival International researcher told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper the location of the resort - Collinpur - was chosen because of its proximity to the Jarawa reserve, so that high-spending visitors can have the thrill of seeing the Jarawa.

'One has to wonder why else Barefoot is building a hotel so close to the Jarawa, if not to allow tourists to intrude into their lives. The mystique of the Jarawa is part of the reason for putting it there,' Sophie Grig said.

'Otherwise it's hard to see why the company picked this location - the beach there is a poor one.