The Lakshadweep Administration plans to acquire 121,359 sqm of private land in Agatti Island for beach front facilities and a peripheral road, sparking concerns among land owners and the scheduled tribe population.
The preliminary notifications have raised environmental and cultural impact concerns in the tiny coral atoll.
According to the notifications, a social impact assessment study was carried out by Social Impact Assessment & Consent Society (SIACS) in Kavaratti, but residents claim they were not consulted.
Residents fear the developments will have a huge impact on people and the local environment, citing recent tourism and infrastructure projects that have caused fear among locals.
The proposed road is for public use, not just tourists, said Shivam Chandra, collector, Lakshadweep.
Lakshadweep consists of 36 islands, with only 10 inhabited, and a land area of 32 sq km and lagoon area of 4,200 sq km.
The majority of the population belongs to Scheduled Tribes, and the island has experienced severe coral bleaching events due to climate change.
