Ernakulam (Kerala): In a controversial move, the government of Lakshadweep has started land acquisition under the Union Territory's new Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation (LDAR), allegedly without the owners' consent.
It is being alleged that private land in Lakshadweep was taken over without informing the owners while protests against the draft are ongoing. The land was acquired by the Revenue Department in Kavaratti.
According to officials, the action was taken according to the instructions of the administration for development activities. Revenue officials placed flags on private land to mark the acquisition of land. Three such places were taken over by the Revenue Department officials. The Revenue Department took up the land acquisition process after the visit of Administrator Praful Patel.
Patel, who was given the charge of Administrator of Lakshadweep following the demise of Dineshwar Sharma in December last year, has been under fire for some time over his policy decisions in the tropical archipelago. Opposition parties in Lakshadweep and the neighbouring states have termed his policies as "anti-people" and have sought his recall.
Also read:Lakshadweep: Parties oppose "anti-people" reforms of Administrator
One of the key decisions taken by the administrator was the acquisition of private land for development activities in Lakshadweep.
The island's government is taking action as protests continue in Lakshadweep. About 600 complaints have been received from the public against the draft Land Acquisition Act. It is learned that the survey was done as part of the acquisition of private land for setting up a hospital complex in Kavaratti. The administrator, who met with Lakshadweep officials, had criticized the development work for not being fast enough. Following this, the Revenue Department went into action and made the land acquisition.
