The government of Lakshadweep is ready to handle an atol in Union Terrtry to use IT for defense purposes. However, the move is found with resistance with local MP Hamdullah Saeed, which is to raise the issue in Parliament.
A government notification issued on July 11 underlined the proposal to handle the entire land area of Bitra Island for Lakshadavip’s Revenue Department and to transfer the relevant central defense and strategic agencies as per the news agency. PTI Informed
Along with 271 residents, as of census 2011, Bitra Lakshadweep Uut has a minimum population of 10 settled islands.
With the move, Bitra will become a third island in the archipelago with a defense establishment – two Indian Navy bases in the archipelago, Kavariitti, UT’s capital and IN JTU in Miniyoy in Southern Island.
The notification by the UT administration states that the initiative is inspired by the strategic place of the island, its national security relevance and the underlying logistics and administrative challenges. PTI,
The administration said that steps would be raised in the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Act, 2013 as per the right to fair compensation and transparency, which requires a social impact assessment (SIA) for the affected area.
According to the order, District Collector Shivam Chandra said that all stakeholders including Gram Sabha will be consulted as part of the SIA, and the survey will be completed in two months.
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Booting the move, Lakshadweep MP Saeed alleged that the real purpose behind the move was to displace the indigenous population. He said that the land in many islands has already been acquired for defense purposes.
The Congress leader also said that to target the island, which has kept a permanent population for decades without considering any of these options, is completely unacceptable.
In addition, he criticized the administration for starting this process, especially at a time when there are no working panchayats, saying that it weakens the democratic system and violates guaranteed constitutional rights to citizens.
Saeed vowed that he would find out all political and legal paths to oppose the move.
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