Tribal Council Alleges Coercion to Surrender Ancestral Land for Great Nicobar Island Project
Members of the Tribal Council in Little and Great Nicobar have alleged that the district administration is pressuring them to sign 'surrender certificates' for their ancestral lands. The ₹92,000-crore Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project requires the diversion of forest lands in Galathea Bay and Pemmaya Bay. These areas were inhabited by the indigenous Nicobarese community before the 2004 tsunami. The council argues that surrendering this land would leave nothing for future generations. The project is nearing final approval, but the lack of transparency regarding the surrender documents has caused significant distress among the tribal population.
Key Points
- The Great Nicobar Island project is a ₹92,000-crore mega-infrastructure initiative.
- The project affects the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes, who are recognized as Scheduled Tribes.
- Key project areas include Galathea Bay and Pemmaya Bay.
- Tribal members were displaced by the 2004 tsunami and have been seeking to return to their ancestral villages.
Exam Facts
- Project cost is estimated at ₹92,000 crore.
- The 2004 tsunami is the reference point for tribal displacement in the region.
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