Govt plans defence ‘takeover’ of Lakshadweep island | India News

KOCHI: Bitra Island, one of the ten inhabited isles within the Lakshadweep archipelago, is ready to be taken over by govt for defence functions. There are 105 households on the island and lots of have opposed the transfer.Lakshadweep income division has issued a notification, dated July 11, for a social affect evaluation (SIA). It acknowledged that the intention was to switch the whole island to defence and strategic companies contemplating its “strategic location” and “national security relevance”.Lakshadweep MP Hamdullah Sayeed alleged that the transfer was geared toward disrupting peace within the space and could be opposed tooth and nail.Lakshadweep MP vows to struggle for Bitra islandersIn a video message, Lakshadweep MP Hamdullah Syeed requested Bitra natives to not fear or be concerned in regards to the notification. “As your MP, we held a confer- ence that included leaders from Bitra and Lakshad- weep and discussed it in de- tail. We have decided to fight with the people of Bitra, po- litically and legally,” he stated. Sayeed stated govt had already acquired land required for defence functions on a number of islands. Targeting Bitra, which has had an indigenous inhabitants for many years, with out contemplating any different, is unacceptable. He additionally criticised the administration for not holding any session with the islanders. The notification stated {that a} Social Impact Assessment (SIA) was wanted as per pro- visions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Trans- parency in Land Acquisi- tion, Rehabilitation and Re- settlement Act, 2013. Naming the division of income as venture developer, it stated SIA actions included con- sultations with all stake- holders of the proposed ar- ea, together with gram sabha. “The SIA and Consent Society, UT of Lakshad- weep, will complete the sur- vey of the proposed area un- der acquisition within two months from the date of the notification,” it stated, including that consent of gram sabhas and/or landowners was not obligatory.