Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 15 May 2025
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly opposed the construction of a shopping complex on land designated as a public graveyard at Anarkali, alleging misuse of public resources and administrative negligence.
Upon learning about the proposed construction through social media, a CPI (M) delegation visited the site on May 13. The delegation comprised D. Ayyappan, State Secretary; D. Laxman Rao, State Secretariat Member; and Port Blair City Area Committee Members N.K.P. Nair and R. Surendran Pillai.
Following the site visit, D. Ayyappan wrote to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, calling the construction an “instance of grave misuse of power” by the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council. According to CPI (M), the Council has diverted a portion of the graveyard land for commercial use without obtaining requisite approval from the A&N Administration, which had originally allotted the land for burial purposes decades ago.
The letter further highlighted environmental concerns, with CPI (M) warning that ongoing slope cutting at the construction site could lead to soil erosion and landslides, endangering both the structure and nearby areas. The party also criticised the use of Smart City project funds for what it termed an “illegal construction.”
CPI (M) leaders pointed out that there are no nearby residential houses to justify the construction of a shopping complex at the location, nor has there been any public demand for such a facility. They emphasized that space in the Anarkali graveyard is already limited and shrinking due to population growth and the practice of allowing the construction of tombs.
In the letter, Ayyappan stated that instead of making more space available for burials, the civic body has diverted the existing graveyard land for commercial development — a move the party strongly opposes.
He also alleged that the civic body has failed to maintain the graveyard properly, making it difficult for residents to find suitable space to bury their dead. CPI (M) has demanded immediate suspension of the construction and urged the Chief Secretary to ensure the graveyard land is preserved solely for its original purpose.