Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 26: Public participation in the proposed Integrated Island Management Plan (IIMP) for Viper Island will move to the public-hearing stage on September 30, with the Department of Environment and Forests scheduled to hold the hearing under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.
The public hearing for preparation of the Draft IIMP will begin at 11 am at the Conference Hall of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman District. The hearing will provide an opportunity for the public and other stakeholders to participate in the process concerning the draft plan.
The Administration had earlier invited suggestions from the public and stakeholders on the Draft IIMP through a news item published in the Daily Telegrams on July 28, 2026. The notice allowed 30 days from the date of publication for submission of suggestions.
To facilitate access to the documents, soft copies of the Draft IIMP, Coastal Land Use Map and Geomorphology Map of Viper Island have been placed on the websites of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and the Department of Environment and Forests, A&N Administration.
The documents are available through the official Administration website at andamannicobar.gov.in and the Environment and Forests Department website at forest.and.nic.in.
Copies of the Draft IIMP have also been made available in several government offices for public and stakeholder access. These include the Chairman’s Office of the Andaman and Nicobar Coastal Zone Management Authority (ANCZMA), headed by the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration; the office of the Member Secretary, ANCZMA, who is the APCCF (CRZ&FC); Van Sadan, Haddo; and the offices of the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, and Divisional Forest Officer, South Andaman.
The draft documents have further been made available at the office of the Assistant Commissioner (HQ), South Andaman; Member Secretary, Pollution Control Committee; Director, Art & Culture; Director, IP&T; Director, Tribal Welfare; Tehsildar, Sri Vijaya Puram; and Range Officer, Tushnabad.
The September 30 hearing follows the earlier public consultation process and marks the next scheduled step in preparation of the Draft IIMP for Viper Island. Members of the public and other stakeholders can participate in the hearing at the designated venue and time.
The Department of Environment and Forests has applied for conducting the public hearing under the EIA Notification, 2006 as part of the process for preparation of the Draft Integrated Island Management Plan.
