The government of Lakshadweep is set to take over Bitra island, an atoll in the Union Terrirtory, to make use of it for defence purposes. However, the move has been met with resistance with local MP Hamdullah Sayeed vowing to raise the issue in Parliament. A government notification, issued on July 11, outlined the proposal for Lakshadweep’s Department of Revenue to take over the entire land area of Bitra island and transfer it to relevant Central defense and strategic agencies, as per news agency PTI reported With 271 residents, as per the Census 2011, Bitra is the least populated among the 10 inhabited islands in the Lakshadweep UT. With this move, Bitra would become the third island in the archipelago with a defence establishment – two Indian naval bases in the archipelago are INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti, the capital of the UT, and INS Jatayu in Minicoy, the southernmost island. The notification by the UT administration stated 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, as per news agency PTI. The administration said the steps will be taken in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 which necessitates a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) for the affected area. As per the order, District Collector Shivam Chandra said all stakeholders, including grama sabhas, would be consulted as part of the SIA, and the survey would be completed in two months. Slamming the move, Lakshadweep MP Sayeed alleged the real objective behind the move was to displace the indigenous population. He pointed out that land in several islands have already been acquired for defense purposes. The Congress leader also said targeting the island, which has housed a permanent population for decades, without considering any of these alternatives, is completely unacceptable. Further, he criticised the administration for initiating the process, especially at a time when there are no functioning panchayats, saying that it undermines the democratic system and violates the constitutional rights guaranteed to citizens. Sayeed vowed that he would explore all political and legal avenues to resist the move.
