Fully aware of Great Nicobar project’s impact, says Centre, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• The Union government defended the Great Nicobar Island project at the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
• The project, costing ₹92,000 crore, includes a transshipment port, international airport, township, and power plant on 160 sq. km of land.
• The government stated it is aware of the project's impact and has mandated conservation and monitoring programs for 30 years.
• Petitions challenge the environmental clearance, citing violations of the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) notification and inadequacies in environmental impact assessment.

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Detailed Insights:

• The project impacts 130 sq. km of forest land inhabited by the Nicobarese and Shompen communities, both Scheduled Tribes, with the Shompen categorized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.
• The government plans to translocate over 16,000 coral colonies and monitor the remaining 4,500, along with conserving Nicobar megapode nests.
• The project will cover 1.82% of the island's archipelago, leaving over two-thirds of Great Nicobar Island (GNI) as forests, with no displacement of tribal persons.
• The environmental clearance mandates biodiversity studies and monitoring until 2052, with the next hearing scheduled for November 7.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Green Tribunal (NGT): A specialized body handling environmental disputes.
• Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ): Regulations governing activities in coastal areas of islands.
• Scheduled Tribes: Indigenous communities recognized by the Indian Constitution.
• Environmental Impact Assessment: Evaluation of the environmental consequences of a project.