海角大神

As tourism ramps up, Indian island residents say, what about us?

The Indian government has begun development plans on three islands to attract more tourists. Faced with new land acquisition proposals, local residents fear displacement and are demanding they be included in decisions made about their homes and livelihoods.

First Look

With palm-fringed beaches, turquoise seas, and coral reefs, it is easy to see the appeal of India鈥檚 Lakshadweep islands. But as the government pushes plans to develop the remote archipelago as a tourist hub, some islanders fear they could lose everything.

Anger has erupted over proposals that could give officials powers to remove or relocate residents to make way for tourism, luxury housing, and deep sea mining projects in the islands, which lie 300 miles off India鈥檚 southwestern coast.

鈥淔or generations we have lived quiet lives, rarely protesting policies created in the mainland. ... But if they take away my land and home, where will we all go?鈥� fisherman Sakariya, who uses one name, said by phone.

Like many local fishermen, his only asset is the family home his grandfather built on a roughly 1,000 square foot plot of land near the beach, in the island capital of Kavaratti.

鈥淭his is not a big city where people can be relocated nearby. For us, it will probably mean having to move to the mainland. How can we allow anyone to take our homes away?,鈥� he told the聽Thomson聽Reuters聽Foundation.

Along with thousands of other islanders, Sakariya has taken to social media to voice his concerns as COVID-19 curbs keep them from taking to the streets to protest.

A Twitter campaign started by students has gained traction on the mainland, with #SaveLakshadweep being backed by prominent politicians including opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.

This week, residents鈥� group Save Lakshadweep Forum staged a one-day hunger strike to protest against the new land acquisition rules that have stirred up eviction fears among the islands鈥� roughly 65,000 people.

Protesters also fear the plans could strain already limited public services on the islands, including a lack of clean drinking water, health care, and access to the mainland.

Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Patel did not respond to a request for comment, but another senior official聽鈥� Collector S Akser Ali聽鈥� told reporters recently the goal was to develop the islands 鈥渉olistically,鈥� with local people鈥檚 welfare in mind.

Mainland sensibilities

The government鈥檚 plans to have 鈥渉appy and prosperous islanders on ecologically protected islands鈥� also extend to the Andaman and Nicobar archipelagoes, which lie in the Bay of Bengal.

Land clearance orders have already been issued for four tourism projects in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, despite concerns about their environmental impact.

鈥淭hese plans do not consider the ecosystem of the islands as particularly unique and are primarily mainland sensibilities of generating revenue and employment being implemented,鈥� said conservationist Manish Chandi.

鈥淭he cost of these proposed projects, on the lives of people and the ecosystem, has to be taken into account,鈥� said Mr. Chandi, who has lived and worked on the islands for decades.

These biodiversity hotspots are already witnessing the impact of climate change, with rising sea levels submerging one of the uninhabited islands in the Lakshadweep, besides residents losing land to coastal erosion, studies have shown.

According to the government鈥檚 plans, however, the development of the island groups will take place as part of an integrated island management plan, made to protect the people and ecosystem.

A senior official at the federal government鈥檚 policy think-tank Niti Aayog said that under phase one of the project only some tent houses and resort villas were under construction in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

鈥淣o other plans have been green lit yet,鈥� he said, requesting anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to the media. 鈥淎 consultant has been hired to prepare a feasibility report and then phase 2 will start.鈥�

They should be told

But in the Lakshadweep islands, mistrust is widespread.

That has been fueled by authorities鈥� recent demolition of fishermen鈥檚 beach shacks, said K Nizamuddin, who belongs to the self-governing body in Kavaratti, which is reimagined as a smart city in the development plans.

Mr. Nizamuddin said part of the problem was that residents had not been properly informed about the plans.

鈥淲e haven鈥檛 been consulted and most islanders are clueless about what the future will bring. If drastic changes are coming, they should be told about it,鈥� he said.

鈥淚n a smart city, there has to be space for local fishermen and for traditional livelihoods like animal rearing to continue. Instead, authorities have broken fishermen鈥檚 sheds on the beach saying it violates norms. So there is mistrust.鈥�

Under the draft regulations, residents would also have to get planning permission before making even minor changes to their homes, said lawyer R. Rohith.

鈥淚n other regions it may seem normal for the government to acquire land for projects, like building a road, but in the islands, it is just not done,鈥� Mr. Rohith said, referring to laws that aim to protect islanders鈥� rights and the fragile ecosystem.

In the Andaman and Nicobar islands, the government wants to build a major port facility, a greenfield international airport, townships, and solar plants.

鈥淣obody is saying there shouldn鈥檛 be any development,鈥� Mr. Chandi said, highlighting the fact that the islands have poor roads, inadequate transport and water supplies, and even patchy telecommunications networks.

鈥淏ut it has to be consultative, taking into consideration the fact that this is a unique ecosystem, home to indigenous people, settlers, all of whom have varying needs and requirements ... and not to forget marine life.鈥�

The views of local people, including vulnerable tribal groups living in the islands鈥� forests, have not been taken into consideration, said anthropologist Vishvajit Pandya.

鈥淭his brilliant idea is not what the people want,鈥� Mr. Pandya said.

Hundreds of miles away in the Lakshadweep islands, the fisherman Sakariya echoed Mr. Pandya鈥檚 criticism.

鈥淲e have lived in this small strip of land for decades. We know the impact of disturbing this ecology better than anyone. Officials should listen to us.鈥�

This story was reported by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.