national A 6-member special bench of the Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday approved the Rs 81,000 crore Great Nicobar Mega Infrastructure Project. In its decision, the NGT said it found “no good ground” to interfere with the environmental clearance granted to the project as the project’s environmental clearance had “ample safeguards”. A bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Srivastava also took note of the “strategic importance of the project” and the issues that were dealt with by the high-powered committee formed to revisit the environmental clearance of the project, as per the NGT’s 2023 order.
10 lakh trees will be cut for the project
According to a report in the Indian Express, this mega project, spread over 166 square kilometres, involves the diversion of 130 square kilometers of forest land and the cutting of around 10 lakh trees. The government wants to build a transshipment port, an integrated township, a civil and military airport and a 450-MVA gas and solar power plant under this mega project. The Center has pushed the project amid concerns of the Nicobari community over eviction from their ancestral lands (which were devastated in the 2004 tsunami) and ecological damage.
Who are included in the special bench of 6 judges?
The special bench headed by Justice Srivastava includes judicial members Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members A Senthil Vel, Afroz Ahmed and Ishwar Singh. The tribunal held that neither the strategic importance of the project could be denied nor the conditions of the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) notification could be ignored. This made the issue one that required a “balanced approach”.
The government will have to accept the conditions
The NGT, in its order, said it found “substantial safeguards” in the environmental clearance and found no good grounds to interfere with the clearance of the project. The NGT recorded that special conditions had been set for the protection of the leatherback sea turtle, Nicobar megapode, salt water crocodile, robber crab, Nicobar macaque and other endemic bird species of Great Nicobar Island. The tribunal said that the government is bound by the conditions of environmental clearance and it has to ensure that these are not violated.
The sandy beach should not be harmed
The National Green Tribunal has directed the government to ensure that the proposed construction of the project does not cause erosion or alteration of the shoreline near the project area and on all islands due to foreshore development. It said that the shores of the islands will be protected so that there is no damage to the sandy beaches, which apart from protecting the islands, also provide nesting sites for turtles and birds.
Why is Great Nicobar Project so important for India?
Great Nicobar Mega Project is strategically very important and necessary for India. With this, India will become even more powerful in the Indian Ocean. Great Nicobar Island is very close to the Strait of Malacca. Not only this, it is one of the busiest maritime trade routes in the world. Therefore, with the help of this place, India will become a major part of the global supply chain. This place is very important for India in terms of military deployment, from where it will be easier for the country to keep a close eye on Chinese ships and submarines in the Indian Ocean. In case of any kind of disaster or war like situation, India will not only get tremendous strength from this place but this place will also help a lot in keeping an eye on the enemy and attacking.
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