Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 04 July 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has expressed deep concern over the rising menace posed by monkeys in Great Nicobar. The unchecked monkey inhabitants, in accordance with the MP, is wreaking havoc on agriculture and severely impacting the lives of native residents, together with ex-servicemen settlers.
In a proper illustration addressed to the Hon’ble Union Home Minister, the Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of the A&N Islands, Mr. Ray has forwarded a mass petition submitted by residents and farmers of Great Nicobar, together with a letter from the Pradhan of Laxminagar Gram Panchayat.
The MP highlighted that the escalating monkey inhabitants has resulted in large-scale destruction of coconut bushes, fruit-bearing crops, and different crops. Beyond financial harm, the persistent risk has additionally taken a toll on the psychological well being and bodily security of residents, particularly throughout routine actions like farming, accessing healthcare, or faculty journey.
Despite repeated appeals by locals and Panchayati Raj Institution members to the Forest Department and the Administration, no concrete steps have been taken. Mr. Ray identified that commitments made throughout District Planning Committee conferences — equivalent to relocating monkeys to uninhabited islands and launching public consciousness campaigns — stay unfulfilled.
Citing the pressing want for intervention, the MP has urged each the Central Government and the A&N Administration to behave directly. He has referred to as for the implementation of the next measures:
– Immediate and efficient management of the monkey inhabitants
– Scientific exploration of relocation methods
– Assessment of crop harm and provision of appropriate compensation to affected farmers
– Community consciousness packages to advertise protected human-wildlife coexistence
Stressing the gravity of the difficulty, Mr. Ray stated the scenario have to be addressed with urgency to safeguard the livelihoods and well-being of the individuals of Great Nicobar.
