Sri Vijaya Puram, May 17: CPI (M) Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee once again demanded to undertake consultation with the elected representatives of Panchayat-raj institutions and political parties in the islands on the Great Nicobar Projects. In a letter addressed to the Lt Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee, while referring to his earlier letter dated 12th March, 2026, urged the Andaman & Nicobar Administration and Government of India to address the concern expressed by environmentalists from different parts of the country and abroad about the adverse impact of the GNI Projects on the environment, resentment among the affected people and land owners. CPI (M) demanded that till the issues raised are discussed with the political parties, environmentalists and representatives of Panchayat-raj institutions in the islands, the work on the proposed land acquisition, etc may be kept in abeyance.
Taking strong exception to the manner in which the Rs. 74,000 crores of GNI Projects are being pushed forward in its present form, unmindful of the opposition by political parties, environmentalists and civil society as a whole, CPI (M) State Secretary said that Shri Rahul Gandhi, Opposition Leader in the Lok Sabha who recently visited Great Nicobar Island, also expressed his serious concern over the GNI Projects.
There are three Gram Panchayats in the Great Nicobar Island. Ayyappan told the Lt Governor that during his visit to Great Nicobar Island in the first week of March, 2026, it was brought to his notice that hundreds of people living in two villages (Shastri Nagar and Gandhi Nagar) under the Lakshmi Nagar Gram Panchayat are being forcibly evicted without paying adequate compensation and alternate land. This is in violation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. No rehabilitation and re-settlement scheme as provided under Section 16 (2) of the said Act has been prepared and publicised by the Deputy Commissioner, Nicobars District (Administrator for Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Affected Families) so far.
CPI (M) has observed that traditional habitat of Nicobari tribes will be acquired for the projects. Several lakhs of trees and plants, including those plants which are rare species in the world, will be cut down for the projects. CPI (M) has already pointed out that no consultation was conducted with the elected representatives of Panchayat-raj institutions and political parties in the islands on the proposed GNI Projects. The decision to implement the GNI Projects was taken by the government unilaterally without any consultation with islanders. It is a matter of grave concern that despite such strong opposition to the GNI Projects, the government is going ahead with its implementation in an autocratic manner.
CPI (M) State Secretary further told the Lt Governor that the details of the projects, its completion period, its maintenance, whether the infrastructure created will remain under the government or handed over to corporates as done in other parts of the country, etc are yet to be spelt out by the government.
Copies of the letter was sent to Prime Minister’s office, Home Minister, General Secretary, CPI (M) and CPI (M) MP R. Sachithanantham, among others.