Sri Vijaya Puram, July 7: The land acquisition process for the proposed Greenfield International Airport in Great Nicobar has come under renewed scrutiny after Andaman and Nicobar Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging that the acquisition proceed strictly in accordance with the law while safeguarding the rights of affected families.
In a representation to the Union Home Minister, the MP stated that the proposed airport is a project of national strategic importance and should move forward without delay. However, he stressed that the acquisition process must remain fair, transparent and legally compliant to prevent avoidable legal challenges that could affect the project in the future.
The MP referred to an earlier letter dated December 1, 2025, addressed to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, through which he had forwarded objections submitted on November 25, 2025, by Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members and affected residents of Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar. The objections were filed against the preliminary notification issued on November 6, 2025, under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013.
According to the representation, the affected residents raised multiple concerns regarding the proposed acquisition. They stated that many of the affected families are ex-servicemen settler families rehabilitated by the Government under the 1969 settlement programme. They also pointed out that several families had already been displaced following the 2004 tsunami and could now face displacement for a third time.
The objections further alleged that the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Report does not fully reflect ground realities, including plantation-based livelihoods, community assets, religious places, burial grounds, schools, anganwadis and the extent of impact on established villages.
The affected persons also sought proper land valuation, including consideration of the compensation benchmark adopted after the 2004 tsunami. They demanded fair compensation for coconut, arecanut and other plantation trees based on livelihood and lifetime income rather than token valuation. They additionally sought land-for-land, house-for-house rehabilitation, livelihood protection, employment support and rehabilitation within Great Nicobar to the maximum possible extent.
The representation further stated that the affected residents requested personal hearings under Section 15 of the RFCTLARR Act, reasoned decisions on their objections and that no declaration under Section 19 be issued until those objections are decided.
The MP argued that the objections fall squarely within the ambit of Section 15 of the RFCTLARR Act, which addresses whether land should be acquired in the proposed manner, for the stated public purpose and based on the findings of the Social Impact Assessment. He maintained that rehabilitation and resettlement provisions under Section 16 cannot substitute compliance with the mandatory procedures prescribed under Section 15.
The MP also highlighted discrepancies in official records, stating that the Social Impact Assessment Report records approximately 263 affected families, while the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Report mentions 572 affected families and 344 displaced families. He further noted that the list supplied appears to identify 582 affected families and 344 displaced families, and requested reconciliation of these figures before further action is taken.
Referring to the Supreme Court judgment in Dinesh & Others v. State of Madhya Pradesh, the MP stated that the Court had held that non-compliance with Section 15 of the RFCTLARR Act could invalidate acquisition proceedings even if subsequent stages had been completed.
He requested the Union Home Minister to direct the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to complete the Section 15 process, hear the affected persons, pass appropriate orders on their objections, reconcile official records and ensure that no irreversible step is taken without full statutory compliance. The MP reiterated that while the Great Nicobar Airport project should proceed, it must do so in a lawful, fair and transparent manner that protects both national interest and the rights of affected familie
