Lakshadweep’s Bitra Island: Bitra Island, which is the tiniest of all the 10 inhabited islands in Lakshadweep, is now at the centre of a serious problem. The Lakshadweep administration has announced that the whole island might be taken over for defence use. On July 11, the Revenue Department of Lakshadweep sent out a notice saying Bitra would be used by defence and strategic agencies because of its important location and how it helps in national security. This decision has shocked and upset the island’s residents, who are very worried about losing their land, homes, and identity.
The island is home to around 105 families, and they have been living there for many decades. People living on the island, along with local leaders, are now speaking out strongly against this move. They say no one spoke to them about it before the notice came out, and no other options were even considered.
Why AK-203 rifles are replacing INSAS along India’s borders
According to Financial Express, Lakshadweep MP Hamdullah Sayeed said, “Targeting Bitra, which has had an indigenous population for decades, without considering any alternative, is unacceptable.” He also believes this decision is being made without caring about the people who actually live on the island.
Locals Upset with the Decision
The order also starts the Social Impact Assessment process, which is part of the law that deals with fair compensation and land acquisition. The law says this assessment must include talking to the people who will be affected, but the same notice also says that getting permission from landowners or village councils is not required. This has made people even more upset, as it seems their opinions might not really matter.
MP Hamdullah Sayeed didn’t hold back. He said, “This decision will be opposed tooth and nail. The government cannot just take over an entire inhabited island without proper consultation or sensitivity to the lives of its residents.”
He is planning to raise this issue in Parliament and fight the decision both legally and politically. He said the people of Bitra are not just protecting their land, they are also protecting who they are and how they live.
BSF Troops Thwart Major Narco Drone Intrusion at Indo-Pak Border
He added, “We will not allow Bitra to become a ghost island for the sake of strategic optics. This is not just about land, it’s about the identity and livelihood of our people.”
The Social Impact Assessment will be handled by the SIA and Consent Society of Lakshadweep and should be done in two months. The Revenue Department will carry out the full land survey, and the whole island will be studied for possible takeover. Residents continue to fear that by the time the survey ends, the government might move ahead with its plans, whether they agree or not.
