Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 24 November 2025
Ex-Servicemen Settler Families residing in Great Nicobar Island, notably within the Laxmi Nagar Panchayat space, are transferring in direction of forming an affiliation to collectively pursue truthful compensation and extra advantages in trade for land acquisition below numerous elements of the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project.
A gathering on this regard is predicted to happen on Thursday, as a number of representatives from the settler households are travelling to Campbell Bay aboard a ship departing Sri Vijaya Puram on 25 November 2025.
The settlers, whose lands are at present being surveyed for acquisition, consider a unified physique is important to barter equitable compensation and perks. As of now, the preliminary notification for land acquisition affecting Ex-Servicemen Settler Families below the Greenfield Airport element has been issued. Survey and census actions are underway below Section 16 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013.
Families from Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar — whose lands are straight impacted — have expressed apprehension in regards to the estimated compensation. The minimal notified circle charges for land stand at ₹131 per sq. m in Gandhi Nagar and ₹113 per sq. m in Shastri Nagar. Locals level out that though precise market values are believed to be considerably increased, most registered sale deeds mirror values nearer to the circle charge as a result of increased stamp duties relevant in any other case. Consequently, estimated compensation calculated by the settlers based mostly on the minimal notified circle charges is falling far under their expectations.
To safeguard their pursuits, the group intends to collectively advocate not just for good-looking compensation for his or her land but in addition for added advantages. Their calls for embody different land allotment for each affected household, authorities employment for relations, provision of particular person housing on newly allotted land, and truthful compensation for plantations and different livelihood belongings.
Speaking to Nicobar Times, a descendent of one of many authentic Ex-Servicemen Settlers highlighted the group’s position within the growth of Great Nicobar.
“Our settlement is not just another ordinary settlement. My family is one among the 330 Ex-Servicemen families who were resettled here with the hope of a better life than the one in the mainland. We are still struggling for basic needs, and now that a massive project is coming up, we want to be an integral part of it. We do not oppose development; in fact, we welcome it. But we expect handsome compensation in return.”
He added that the federal government should duly recognise the contribution of the settlers, who during the last 5 a long time remodeled the island from dense forest right into a liveable area the place such mega growth is now potential.
“Our elders safeguarded this island and developed it into a paradise. The compensation should allow us to build businesses and secure our future generations. We want the Administration and Government of India to accept our demands so that we remain active partners in the project, not victims of displacement.”
With the land acquisition course of progressing, the formation of the affiliation is predicted to convey a collective voice to the negotiation desk and make sure the considerations of those ex-servicemen settler households are duly heard at each the UT Administration and Central Government ranges.
