Confusion over clearances for Great Nicobar project persists, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The Tribal Affairs Ministry requested a report on alleged Forest Rights Act (FRA) violations in the Great Nicobar Islands project.
• The Calcutta High Court is reviewing petitions challenging clearances for the ₹81,000-crore project due to alleged FRA violations.
• The Tribal Council of Little and Great Nicobar filed a complaint alleging FRA processes weren't initiated, contrary to the administration's claims.
• The Environment Ministry awaits a compliance report from the islands administration regarding the 37 conditions of Stage I clearance, including FRA compliance.

Detailed Insights:

• The petitions before the Calcutta High Court argue that the consent of tribespeople was obtained by violating the Forest Rights Act, 2006, for diverting approximately 13,000 hectares of forestland.
• The Great Nicobar Islands project includes a transshipment port, an airport, a power plant, and a township, raising concerns about environmental and tribal rights impacts.
• The Tribal Affairs Ministry initially issued a no-objection certificate in 2020 based on information from the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, but now questions FRA compliance.
• The Environment Ministry emphasizes that land is a State subject and that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal ministry for the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
• The Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023, do not override any part of the FRA, according to the Environment Ministry's submissions to the High Court.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA): Indian legislation that grants rights to forest-dwelling communities over forest land and resources.
• Nodal Ministry: The primary ministry responsible for the implementation and oversight of a particular law or policy.
• Public Interest Litigation (PIL): A lawsuit filed in the public interest, often to address issues of environmental or social concern.