'Comprehensive appraisal done': Minister defends Great Nicobar project in response to Jairam letter, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav defended the Great Nicobar Islands (GNI) project, stating environmental clearances followed due process.
• The project spans 166 sq km, including a transshipment port, airport, power infrastructure, and coastal city.
• Jairam Ramesh, Congress MP, alleged inadequate baseline data in the project's environmental impact assessment.
• Yadav asserted that environmental concerns and biodiversity impacts were thoroughly examined during the appraisal process.
• The project requires felling 13,000 hectares of forest on the ecologically sensitive islands.

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Detailed Insights:

• The environmental appraisal followed the EIA Notification, 2006, Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ), 2019, and other provisions.
• Primary field data was integrated with long-term datasets from institutions like the Zoological Survey of India and the Wildlife Institute of India.
• A shoreline change assessment indicated the eastern flank of Galathea Bay is stable, justifying port placement.
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) examined environmental studies and baseline data issues in its February 16 judgment.
• The High-Powered Committee (HPC) report contains strategic information exempt under the RTI Act 2005.
• The project's impact on corals, turtles, megapodes, shoreline stability, marine ecology, and tribal welfare was examined by experts.

Key Concepts Involved:

• EIA Notification, 2006: Guidelines for assessing environmental impacts of projects.
• Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ), 2019: Regulations governing activities in coastal zones of islands.
• RTI Act 2005: Law providing citizens access to government-held information.