The Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has defended the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) mega infrastructure project amidst growing concerns about its environmental and social impact. In response to a letter from senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Yadav emphasized that the project includes “exemplary mitigation measures” aimed at minimizing the environmental impact while balancing “strategic, national, and defense interests.”
The GNI project, which involves the construction of a transshipment port, an airport, a township, and a power plant, has sparked controversy due to its potential effects on rare species, rainforests, and the island’s tribal population, including the Shompen, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG). Critics, including Ramesh, have raised concerns about forest land diversion, the loss of natural ecosystems, and the functioning of the High-Powered Committee (HPC) assessing the project.
Yadav addressed these concerns in a six-page letter dated August 21, where he outlined the government’s efforts to ensure environmental protection. He stated that 82% of the area on Great Nicobar Island remains under protected forests, eco-sensitive zones, and biosphere reserves, exceeding the required norms of maintaining two-thirds of the area under forest cover.
On the matter of compensatory afforestation, Yadav acknowledged that the replacement planting was being done thousands of kilometers away in a different ecological setting but justified this by citing the lack of available land on the island. He also noted that 24,353.72 hectares of land in Haryana have been notified as protected forest for the project.
Responding to Ramesh’s criticisms of the HPC’s conclusions, Yadav asserted that the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) conducted thorough assessments and found no part of the project within the Coastal Regulation Zone 1A, where building is restricted. The minister also cited the project’s national importance and defense dimensions as reasons for not publicly disclosing the committee’s deliberations.
Regarding the impact on the Shompen community, Yadav assured that consultations with tribal experts, including the Anthropological Society of India, were conducted to protect the interests of the indigenous groups. He emphasized that there would be no displacement of tribal communities and that the administration has allocated ₹201.98 crores for tribal welfare initiatives, including a special medical unit.
Yadav also addressed concerns about the seismic vulnerability of the region, acknowledging its history of seismic activity but downplaying the risk of another major disaster like the 2004 earthquake. He assured that a comprehensive disaster management plan has been prepared, adhering to Indian Standard Codes and National Building Code Guidelines for earthquake-resistant design.
The minister’s response comes after reports that the Tribal Council of Little and Great Nicobar withdrew their no-objection certificate (NOC) for the project, raising questions about the consent of the affected communities. Despite these challenges, the government remains committed to moving forward with the GNI project, emphasizing its strategic importance.
Sources By Agencies
