Kochi
The Lakshadweep administration is considering acquiring a populated island Bitra for defense purposes. However, local Congress MP Hamdullah Saeed has opposed the move saying that the real purpose behind this is to displace the local population. He said that he would find all political and legal avenues to oppose this step. He will raise the issue in the upcoming Parliament session and urge the central government to intervene immediately.
Notification was released recently
It is noteworthy that in a recent government notification, the Revenue Department has presented the outline of the proposal to subjugate the entire land area of Bitra Island. Its purpose is to transfer it to the respective defense and strategic agencies of the Center. The notification issued last week clarified that the initiative is inspired by the strategic status of the island, its national security relevance and administrative challenges.
The Territorial Administration will acquire the island according to the relevant procedures of appropriate compensation and transparency in the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Act, 2013. For this, the ‘social impact assessment’ of the proposed area is to be studied. District Collector Shivam Chandra said in the order that all stakeholders including Gram Sabhas will be consulted under the ‘Social Impact Assessment’ initiative. It states that the survey of the proposed area under the acquisition will be completed on July 11 within two months from the date of publication of the notification.
Congress MP opposed the decision
Meanwhile, Lakshadweep MP Hamdullah Saeed has opposed the acquisition of Bitra Island, saying the real purpose behind the move is to displace the local population. The MP said that Bitra is the smallest island in the union territory and will oppose the efforts of the administration to acquire it on the pretext of defense requirements. He also demanded to withdraw this decision immediately.
Saeed said that the land required for defense purposes has already been acquired by the government in many islands. He said that it is completely unacceptable to target Bitra with permanent population for decades without considering these options. He criticized the administration for initiating such action without consulting local residents, especially at a time when local panchayats are not working in the islands. He said that such unilateral action weakens the democratic system and violates the constitutional rights given to citizens.