Archive · 22 Jan 2026
Great Nicobar Tribals Resist Land Surrender for Development Project
The tribal people of Great Nicobar Island say the government asked them to give up their ancestral lands.
This is for a big development project that includes a new town, a power plant, an airport, and a port.
The tribes have lived on these lands for generations and depend on them for their livelihoods.
They were moved to new settlements after a tsunami in 2004, but they want to go back to their original villages.
The government says all land rights have been settled, but the tribes say this is not true and they don't want to give up their lands.
They want the project to be built on non-tribal lands instead.
Great Nicobar tribal members allege they were asked to sign 'surrender certificates' for their ancestral lands during a January 7 meeting with the district administration.
The demand is linked to the Great Nicobar Project, which includes a new township, power plant, international airport, and transshipment port, covering 166 sq km of the island.
Tribal members refused to sign the certificates, stating it would mean giving up their lands forever and affecting their children's future security.
The tribes were relocated to two settlements in Campbell Bay after the 2004 tsunami and have been demanding to return to their ancestral villages.
The tribal council has accused the administration of falsely claiming that all forest rights under the 2006 Forest Rights Act have been settled.
- Who
- Great Nicobar Tribal Council members and the district administration
- What
- Alleged demand for tribal members to sign 'surrender certificates' for ancestral lands
- When
- Meeting held on January 7, press conference on January 11
- Where
- Great Nicobar Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Why
- For the development of the Great Nicobar Project, which includes a new township, power plant, international airport, and transshipment port
- Tribal Council
- Great Nicobar Tribal Council
- Meeting Date
- January 7
- Project Components
- New township, power plant, international airport, transshipment port
- Land Area
- 166 sq km
- Relocation Year
- 2004 (after tsunami)
- Current Settlements
- New Chingenh, Rajiv Nagar
- Forest Rights Act
- 2006
- Project Name
- Great Nicobar Project
