NGT clears ₹92,000-cr. Great Nicobar project, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) cleared the ₹92,000-crore Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project on Monday.
• The project includes a transshipment port, airport, power plant, and township.
• The NGT directed authorities to ensure strict compliance with the Environment Clearance (EC) conditions granted in 2022.
• An earlier NGT Bench in 2023 had called for a high-powered committee (HPC) to address environmental concerns.
• The NGT noted the project's strategic, defence, and national importance in its order.

NGT

Detailed Insights:

• The NGT disposed of applications related to the EC, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach between development and environmental protection under the ICRZ Notification, 2019.
• Applicants argued that the government had erred in limiting the terms of reference for the HPC, but the NGT found no error in the drafting of the terms.
• The Union government opposed public disclosure of the HPC report due to its strategic importance and confidential information.
• The Environment Ministry will undertake measures to protect coral reefs and ensure coral regeneration through scientific methods, preparing an implementation plan for this purpose.
• The NGT has assigned responsibility to the Environment Ministry to prevent shoreline erosion due to proposed constructions, including foreshore development.
• Aspects of the project's forest clearance are currently under challenge before the Calcutta High Court.
• Locals have objected to the project's approval, alleging that their consent was not lawfully obtained and that their rights on forest lands have not been settled.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Environment Clearance (EC): A process for assessing the environmental impact of a project before it can proceed.
• ICRZ Notification, 2019: Regulations governing activities in coastal regulation zones to protect coastal environments.
• High-Powered Committee (HPC): A committee formed to address specific issues, often involving multiple stakeholders and expert opinions.