Hon’ble Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray has sought intervention from the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to ensure that the proposed land acquisition in Great Nicobar follows the procedures mandated under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. In a detailed representation, the MP said the process initiated in Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar requires corrective steps to maintain fairness, legality and public confidence.
The MP raised concerns on behalf of the ex-servicemen settler families who form the core population of the affected villages. These families were resettled in Great Nicobar under the 1969 Ex-Servicemen Rehabilitation Scheme for strategic purposes. Many of them have previously faced displacement during initial settlement and again after the 2004 tsunami. The MP said the possibility of a third displacement has created growing anxiety among the residents.
A major section of the representation points to procedural lapses. The MP said the district administration began Section 16 activities, including the R&R census and a public hearing, without disposing of objections filed under Section 15(3). Under the Act, objections on land area, suitability, public purpose and findings of the Social Impact Assessment must be examined first, followed by a personal hearing and a reasoned order before any progress to Section 16. The MP warned that ignoring this mandatory sequence may give an impression of a predetermined acquisition outcome.
He also highlighted what he described as significant flaws in the Social Impact Assessment. These include inadequate verification of field conditions, incomplete mapping of public infrastructure such as schools, anganwadis, religious sites and burial grounds, and insufficient data on plantation-based livelihoods. The MP further said that the SIA does not reflect the full layout and households of Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar.
Valuation concerns were also raised. The MP referred to the 2004 benchmark of ₹9.39 lakh per hectare, used for land submerged after the tsunami, which amounts to around ₹32 lakh per hectare when inflation-adjusted today. He said this benchmark should guide compensation under Section 26. He added that compensation for plantations must reflect lifetime income potential rather than a single year’s return, as indicated in the current SIA approach.
On the rehabilitation and resettlement front, the representation notes the absence of a clear R&R scheme with maps, timelines or land-for-land options. It further mentions that there is no clarity on the relocation of community assets, and that vulnerable groups such as widows, elderly residents and persons with disabilities have not been adequately addressed.
The MP clarified that the settler families are not opposing the development project, but are seeking adherence to due process and safeguards that ensure no household becomes landless or loses its livelihood. He cautioned that premature Section 16 proceedings may trigger humanitarian distress, avoidable litigation and erosion of trust.
The appeal submitted to the Prime Minister and Home Minister includes seven key requests. These include strict adherence to the sequence of Sections 11, 15 and 16; treating ongoing Section 16 activities as provisional until objections are resolved; ensuring no premature possession or declaration under Section 19; re-examining the SIA; revising valuation on an inflation-adjusted basis; finalising a comprehensive rehabilitation plan that protects livelihoods; and conducting repeated Gram Sabha meetings in accessible language.
The MP expressed confidence that timely intervention by the Union Government would safeguard both national strategic objectives and the rights of the settler families of Great Nicobar.
