Sri Vijaya Puram, May 13: The Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, had earlier written to the Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, on 21.04.2026, seeking urgent intervention regarding the prolonged and allegedly irregular survey and settlement operations in Ferrargunj Tehsil, South Andaman. Copies of the letter were also marked to the Hon’ble Union Home Minister and the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In his letter, Shri Ray pointed out that the notification under Section 48(1) of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Land Revenue and Land Reforms Regulation, 1966 was issued as far back as 20.07.2011. However, even after several years, there is still no clear, accessible and village-wise public picture regarding the finalisation of records in Ferrargunj Tehsil.
The Hon’ble MP has stated that old finalised records already existed in all villages, but serious grievances are being raised by citizens that newly prepared maps and records are not properly linked with the old finalised records, maps and settled field position. Instead of reducing disputes, the present exercise is being perceived by many affected persons as having aggravated confusion, hardship and mistrust.
Shri Ray has further emphasised that pending settlement operations cannot be allowed to paralyse ordinary revenue administration. According to him, routine citizen-centric services such as demarcation, diversion and other field-level matters cannot be indefinitely stalled merely on the ground that settlement operations are pending. In villages where new records have not been lawfully finalised, the old finalised records must continue to govern day-to-day administration and citizen services.
Therefore, Hon’ble MP has requested the Administration to order an independent, time-bound enquiry into the survey and settlement operations undertaken in Ferrargunj Tehsil from 2011 onwards. He has also sought mandatory reconciliation of newly prepared records with old finalised records, maps, field books and lawful tenure history before any further finalisation is acted upon.
Shri Ray has also demanded that further finalisation or field implementation of disputed newly prepared records be halted pending enquiry and reconciliation. He has asked the Administration to publish a village-wise public status statement for Ferrargunj Tehsil, clearly disclosing the notification date, present stage of survey, record-preparation status, finalisation status and the authority presently responsible for routine citizen matters.
The MP has also called for fixing responsibility for delay, negligence, irregularity, jurisdictional overreach or corruption, if found during the enquiry. He has further stressed that affected citizens, landholders and public representatives must be given a structured opportunity to place their objections, records and field grievances during the enquiry so that the process reflects ground reality and inspires public confidence.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray Hon’ble MP stated that the issue is no longer a narrow departmental matter, as it directly affects lawful land records, access to ordinary public services, transparency in land governance and citizens’ faith in the revenue administration.