Nicobarese Council Objects To Sanctuary Notifications In Little Nicobar Islands

The Nicobarese tribal council has raised objections to the Centre’s proposal to set up wildlife sanctuaries in Little Nicobar, Menchal, and Meroe islands. Community representatives said the notification was issued without discussions with local residents, and alleged that provisions of the Forest Rights Act had been ignored. The council has demanded that the proposal be withdrawn.

Sanctuary Plan Questioned

The three wildlife sanctuaries were notified by the Union government in October 2022. Officials said the move was aimed at protecting coral reefs as well as nesting grounds used by leatherback turtles and Nicobar megapodes.

The tribal council, however, said island residents were not informed before the decision was taken. It maintained that the Nicobarese community has lived on and cared for these islands over several generations, and should have been consulted before any notification was issued.

Cultural Concerns Raised

In a letter addressed to the Assistant Conservator of Forests in the Nicobar Forest Division, the tribal council again objected to the sanctuary proposal. It said the decision had been made without involving the island communities, who have traditionally inhabited and looked after the area.

The council also stressed the cultural importance of Meroe and Menchal islands to the Nicobarese people. According to the letter, the community regards the islands as sacred spaces linked to ancestral spirits and long-held traditions.

Environmental And Indigenous Dimensions

• Indigenous rights: Locals and some researchers say the sanctuaries were declared without first taking consent from the Nicobarese community. They argue this goes against the Forest Rights Act and leaves little room for community control over ancestral land.

• Threat to livelihoods and customary practices: Community representatives have warned that sanctuary-related restrictions could affect traditional activities such as fishing, hunting, gathering forest produce and shifting cultivation. According to them, this may undermine the economic security of both the Nicobarese and Shompen peoples.

• Cultural and spiritual impact: Islanders say Meroe and Menchal hold deep spiritual importance for the Nicobarese community. There are concerns that conservation regulations could interfere with rituals, customary practices and ancestral traditions linked to these landscapes.

• Questions over conservation policy: Environmental groups and local observers have also highlighted what they describe as contradictions in the government’s approach. While the sanctuaries are being promoted as conservation measures, ecologically sensitive areas such as Galathea Bay were previously opened up for large-scale infrastructure and commercial projects.

Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh has written to Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, claiming that consent norms under the Forest Rights Act were not followed in the Great Nicobar Island project. He has called for the Andaman and Nicobar administration to withdraw the clearances issued. Separately, the Calcutta High Court is scheduled to hear petitions challenging the Great Nicobar project, where related objections, including those linked to the proposed wildlife sanctuaries, may also be taken up.

(With inputs from various sources)

FAQs

Why are the Nicobarese opposing the sanctuary notifications?
They say the wildlife sanctuaries in Little Nicobar, Menchal and Meroe were declared without consulting local communities, leaving them out of decisions affecting their ancestral lands.

What is the main legal argument being made?
Critics argue that the process did not follow consent requirements under the Forest Rights Act, which is meant to protect indigenous rights over traditional territories.

How could the sanctuaries affect daily life?
Locals say sanctuary rules may restrict activities such as fishing, hunting, gathering forest produce and shifting cultivation, which are central to livelihoods.

Why are cultural issues being raised?
Community members describe parts of these islands as sacred and tied to ancestral traditions, saying conservation rules could interfere with rituals and customary practices.

Is this linked to other developments in the region?
Yes. The dispute is unfolding alongside wider debates over large development projects in the Nicobar and Great Nicobar region, which have also faced legal and political scrutiny.