Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 17 April 2023
A new encroachment has come up at Campbell Bay Bazaar near Zero Point in the shape of an eatery. The encroachment is a few days old and seems like the authorities of the Revenue Department have turned a blind eye to the activity of the encroacher.
The encroachment has come up on the porch of an abandoned complex of old Government quarters.
The area where the encroachment has come up is a prime Govt. property right at the heart of Campbell Bay Bazaar and could have been utilized for the construction of shops for unemployed youth, but instead, the property is being encroached, and the authorities have turned a blind eye towards the illegal activity.
Nicobar Times has received credible information that the encroacher is being supported by a local politician, and due to the politician’s influence, the encroacher is able to openly indulge in illegal activity without any consequence.
Several youths of Great Nicobar are aggrieved by the negligent attitude of the authorities towards such illegal encroachment.
Great Nicobar already has a dearth of revenue land for developmental purposes, and allowing open encroachment on prime Govt. Property should be treated as a criminal offence. The responsible officials should be booked under relevant provisions of the law and a departmental enquiry should be initiated against them.
Several parcels of land in Great Nicobar have been encroached recently on the pretext of putting up temporary stalls selling delicacies like Pani Puri and snacks. These stalls are also slowly turning into permanent encroachments.