NGT clears Great Nicobar, cites 'strategic' role, no 'good ground' to interfere, Pg3

Key Highlights:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has cleared the Rs 81,000-crore Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project, citing its strategic importance and the presence of adequate environmental safeguards.
• The project involves the diversion of 130 sq km of forest land and felling of nearly one million trees.
• The project includes the construction of a transshipment port, an integrated township, a civil and military airport, and a 450-MVA power plant.
• Petitions alleging violations of the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) notification and non-compliance with previous NGT orders were dismissed.

Detailed Insights:

• The NGT's decision was based on the report of a high-powered committee (HPC), which addressed concerns raised in a previous NGT order from 2023 regarding the project's environmental clearance.
• Concerns were raised by the Nicobarese community regarding the dispossession of their ancestral lands and potential ecological damage due to the project.
• The NGT addressed concerns regarding the protection of corals, the adequacy of baseline data, and the project's location within prohibited coastal areas.
• The tribunal emphasized the need for a balanced approach, acknowledging both the project's strategic importance and the need to adhere to environmental regulations.
• The NGT has directed that the project's construction should not cause erosion or shoreline changes and that the conditions laid down for the protection of species like the leatherback sea turtle and Nicobar megapode must be strictly followed.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Environmental Clearance: Permission granted for a project after assessing its potential environmental impact.
• Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ): Regulations governing activities in ecologically sensitive coastal areas of islands.
• Transshipment Port: A port where cargo is transferred from one ship to another.