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The Lakshadweep administration is considering the acquisition of Bitra, one of the 10 inhabited islands in the archipelago, for defence purposes. The move invited a strong protest from Lakshadweep MP Hamdullah Sayeed, who extended complete support to the local residents of the island and promised them to explore political and legal avenues to resist it. At present, there are 105 families on the island. And several have opposed the move.
A recent government notification outlined this proposal for the Department of Revenue to take over the entire land area of Bitra Island, reported news agency PTI. The intent is to transfer it to relevant defense and strategic agencies of the Centre.
What is the reason behind acquiring Bitra Island?
The notification, issued last week, clarified that the initiative is driven by the strategic location of the island, its national security relevance, and the inherent logistical and administrative challenges posed by the civilian habitation.
According to the news agency PTI report, the territorial administration would take over the island as per the relevant provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resetlement Act, 2013 for which Social Impact Assessment study has to be undertaken for the affected area.
District Collector Shivam Chandra, in the order, said all stakeholders, including grama sabhas, would be consulted as part of the Social Impact Assessment initiatives. The survey of the proposed area under the acquisition would be completed within two months from the date of the publication of the notification on July 11, it stated.
Why are some locals opposing the government’s decision?
On the other hand, Lakshadweep MP Hamdullah Sayeed has stood up firm against the move to take over Bitra island by the UT administration. He stated that the real objective behind the move is to displace the indigenous population. In a statement issued by his office, the MP said Bitra is the smallest inhabited island in the UT and he would strongly protest against the administration’s attempt to acquire it under the pretext of defense requirements. He also demanded that the decision be withdrawn immediately.
Sayeed pointed out that the land required for defense purposes has already been acquired by the government in several islands. He stated that targeting Bitra, which has had a permanent population for decades, without considering any of these alternatives, is completely unacceptable.
Why is Bitra Island strategically important for defence?
Furthermore, he criticised the administration for initiating such actions without any consultation with the indigenous residents, especially at a time when there are no functioning of local panchayat in the islands. He stated that this kind of unilateral action undermines the democratic system and violates the constitutional rights guaranteed to citizens.
In a statement, the MP assured that he would stand with the people of Bitra and would explore all political and legal avenues to resist the move. In addition, he also stated that he would raise the issue in the upcoming Parliament session, urging the central government to intervene immediately.
Hamdullah Sayeed, MP for Lakshadweep, in a video message has given assurances to the people of Bitra not to panic or feel anxious about the notification. “As your MP, we held a conference that included leaders from Bitra and Lakshadweep and discussed it in detail. We have decided to fight with the people of Bitra, politically and legally,” Hamdullah Sayeed stated, as reported by The Times of India.
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