Sri Vijaya Puram | January 09, 2026
Tarun Karthick
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Andaman & Nicobar Islands unit, has submitted a comprehensive memorandum to the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Mr. Amit Shah, placing before him a wide-ranging charter of demands relating to infrastructure development, governance reforms, employment protection, healthcare, transport connectivity and long-pending public grievances in the Union Territory.
The memorandum, signed by BJP State President Mr. Anil Kumar Tiwari, was submitted as agenda points for the proposed BJP State-level delegation meeting with the Union Home Minister during his visit to Sri Vijaya Puram. The party also expressed gratitude to the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for unprecedented investments and mega development projects undertaken in the islands over the past decade.
During the Union Home Minister’s visit to Sri Vijaya Puram last week, Mr. Amit Shah visited the BJP Andaman & Nicobar Islands State Headquarters and interacted with party functionaries. Key issues affecting the islands were discussed during the interaction. Subsequently, on the direction of the Union Home Minister, senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs held a meeting with BJP functionaries at Sri Vijaya Puram, during which detailed inputs and representations on the party’s demands were submitted by the BJP Andaman & Nicobar Islands State unit.
Power Generation and Supply Crisis: The BJP highlighted the continuing power crisis across the islands, stating that there remains a significant gap between electricity generation capacity and actual demand. Despite interim measures taken by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, uninterrupted power supply has not been achieved even for a single day, affecting households, commercial establishments and the tourism sector.
The party urged immediate commencement of the proposed 60 MW LNG-based power plant at Bambooflat and demanded procurement of at least a 30 MW diesel-based power plant as an interim measure until the LNG facility becomes operational.
Drinking Water Scarcity and Demand for Structural Reforms: Raising serious concern over drinking water availability, the BJP pointed out that water is supplied only on alternate days and, during summer months, in some areas only once a week. While rainwater availability is abundant during the monsoon, excess water from Dhanikhari Dam is wasted due to lack of storage facilities.
The party proposed construction of a check dam adjacent to Dhanikhari Dam, desilting of the existing reservoir to improve storage capacity, and development of rainwater storage systems across other populated islands. It also demanded creation of a dedicated Water Management Board, stating that water supply is currently managed by an overburdened APWD division.
Domicile-Based Job Reservation for Islanders: Seeking protection of employment opportunities for local youth, the BJP demanded implementation of a domicile-based job reservation policy for Andaman & Nicobar Islands on the lines of provisions framed for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Citing Article 16(3) and Article 16(4) of the Constitution, the party demanded 100% reservation for islanders in at least Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ government posts, stating that local youth face disadvantages due to limited educational facilities, geographical isolation and high cost of living. The party urged statutory definition of “local”, a formal domicile certification mechanism and legal backing for existing executive measures protecting employment rights of islanders.
Healthcare Gaps and Demand to Hand Over ANIIMS to AIIMS: Highlighting serious deficiencies in healthcare infrastructure, the BJP stated that district hospitals at Mayabunder and Car Nicobar face acute shortage of specialists, while the G.B. Pant Hospital at Sri Vijaya Puram is understaffed. ANIIMS, established over a decade ago, was described as struggling due to more than 80% vacancies in specialist and super-specialist posts.
As a result, critically ill patients are frequently referred to mainland hospitals in Chennai and Kolkata. The BJP highlighted difficulties in air evacuation, including denial of stretcher facilities and exorbitant charges ranging from ₹5 to ₹7 lakh per patient.
The party demanded immediate regulation of stretcher fares, mandatory airline cooperation, subsidised or free air ambulance services, and, as a long-term solution, handover of ANIIMS to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Curtailment of Powers of PRIs and Municipal Council: The memorandum alleged that powers of elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council (SVPMC) have been curtailed since the COVID-19 period. The BJP demanded restoration of administrative and financial powers, withdrawal of Circular No. 1017 dated April 21, 2022, and separation of the Panchayat Directorate from the Directorate of Rural Development.
It also sought amendments to Panchayat rules to prevent frequent no-confidence motions, allocation of at least 30% of plan funds as recommended by the UT Finance Commission, and sanction of a one-time special grant of ₹10,000 crore to clear pending developmental works.
Regularisation of Pre- and Post-1978 Encroachments: Calling it one of the longest pending public issues, the BJP urged early regularisation of pre-1978 and post-1978 encroachments on government revenue land with a cut-off date of May 7, 2002.
The party cited the Shekhar Singh Commission and Vivek Rae Committee reports, noting that the Administration has already regularised several pre-1961 cases, while 188 post-1942 encroachment cases identified by the Vivek Rae Committee are still pending, despite there being no legal impediment.
NH-4 (Andaman Trunk Road/Earlier Known as NH-223) Demand to Handover Back to APWD: The BJP strongly criticised the execution of NH-4 by NHIDCL, stating that after the highway was handed over to NHIDCL in 2014 and works commenced around 2017, unsuitable construction technology was adopted, particularly in North and Middle Andaman, leading to premature road failures.
The memorandum highlighted prolonged delays, ineffective monitoring, and the incomplete Baratang Bridge, stating that large stretches remain damaged or unusable even after nearly seven years. The party also expressed concern over the Andaman Marine Drive project being entrusted to NHIDCL, given its track record in the islands.
The BJP demanded that NH-4 be handed back to the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD), along with sanction of a special grant and annual maintenance allocation by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
Shipping Services and Maritime Infrastructure: Describing shipping as the lifeline of the islands, the BJP highlighted shortage of vessels, ageing ships and lack of docking and repair facilities. It demanded procurement of four passenger-cum-cargo ships with a capacity of 500 passengers and 300 tonnes of cargo.
The party also sought prioritised development of ports, jetties, dry docks and bunkering facilities under the Sagarmala Programme and early execution of the proposed deep-water harbour project at Diglipur.
Stamp Duty, Registration Charges and Revenue Governance: The BJP expressed strong concern over the steep increase in stamp duty and registration charges, stating that the exorbitant hike would have a direct and negative impact on the lives of the general public and should be reversed immediately.
While welcoming the removal of several redundant revenue clauses and improvements in ease of doing revenue-related work, the party pointed out that citizen charters prescribing timelines for disposal of cases are not being strictly followed, causing avoidable hardship to residents. It demanded a priority review of all revenue-related matters to make the system more transparent and people-friendly.
UDAN Scheme: Demand to Operationalise Airports at Diglipur, Car Nicobar and Campbell Bay: The BJP stated that airports at Diglipur, Car Nicobar and Campbell Bay are ready for operation by both defence and civil authorities but are currently being used only for defence purposes.
The party demanded that these airports be operationalised for civil aircraft under the UDAN Scheme, stating that this would boost tourism, improve regional connectivity and prove critical for medical evacuation of serious patients from remote islands, besides strengthening aviation preparedness due to their strategic proximity to international borders.
Campbell Bay: Tsunami Compensation, Land Acquisition and Livelihood Concerns: BJP raised unresolved issues faced by residents of Campbell Bay. While expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for selecting Campbell Bay for a mega developmental project aimed at transforming it into a regional business hub, the party stated that several local grievances remain pending.
One of the key concerns highlighted was the meagre compensation paid to tsunami-affected families who lost land due to sea water inundation during the 2004 tsunami, leaving many families inadequately rehabilitated even after two decades.
The party also expressed apprehension over land acquisition for upcoming mega projects, stating that the compensation to be paid in lieu of land acquisition as per the existing circle rates is insufficient to enable displaced families to resettle. It demanded enhanced compensation for land and plantation assets, including coconut, arecanut and other fruit-bearing trees, to ensure economic security and dignified rehabilitation.
The BJP urged the Centre to address Campbell Bay’s issues on priority, stating that inclusive and humane development is essential for long-term public support and sustainability of strategic projects in the region.
