Syllabus
GS Paper III – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Context
Recently, the high-powered committee (HPC) established by the National Green Tribunal in 2023 submitted its reports to the bench, revisiting the green clearance for the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) infrastructure project.
Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Infrastructure Project
Introduction
The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Infrastructure Project, initiated in 2021, aims to develop a trans-shipment port, an international airport, township infrastructure, and a 450 MVA gas and solar-based power plant. This large-scale project is planned for the southernmost region of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Current Scenario
- In 2022, the Mumbai-based non-profit Conservation Action Trust (CAT) challenged the environmental clearance, forest clearance, and CRZ clearances granted to the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) project.
- A special bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Kolkata constituted the High Powered Committee (HPC) in April 2023, headed by the Secretary, Union Environment Ministry.
- Tasks of the HPC
- Protection of Coral Colonies: Enquire into the protection of 4,518 coral colonies.
- Baseline Data Collection: Assess the project’s environmental impact based on limited one-season baseline data.
- Ecologically Sensitive Area: Investigate the issue of project components falling in the ecologically sensitive ICRZ-IA area.
- Port Location: The proposed transshipment port does not fall in the ICRZ-IA (where ports are prohibited) but is in ICRZ-IB (where ports are permitted).
- Issues Raised
- Variance in Information: The HPC’s conclusions about the port location in ICRZ-IB differ from the information submitted by the Andaman and Nicobar Coastal Management Authority.
- Opacity of Operations: The HPC’s operations have been opaque, and its report has not been made public.
- Lack of New Information: New information justifying the recategorization of the land has not been provided to stakeholders.
- No Order Passed: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has not passed any order after revisiting the clearance.
Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Infrastructure Project
- GNI: Refers to the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) infrastructure project.
- Great Nicobar ‘Holistic Development’ Project: Conceived by the NITI Aayog.
- Budget: The Central Government has granted Rs. 72,000 Crore for this project.
- Components
- Airport: For civilian and defense use.
- International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICIT): A key component of the project.
- Township: Development of a new township.
- Area Coverage: The project will cover 166 sq km along the island’s southeastern and southern coasts, with a coastal strip of width between 2 km and 4 km.
- Implementation: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO) is the project’s implementing agency.
- Phases: The project is to be implemented in 3 phases over the next 30 years.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Ecological Importance
- Forest Coverage: The present forest coverage is 86.2% of the total land area.
- Biosphere Reserve: The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve is one of the 18 Biosphere Reserves in India.
- Total National Parks: There are 9 National Parks:
- Campbell Bay National Park
- Galathea National Park
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
- Middle Button Island National Park
- Mount Harriet National Park
- North Button Island National Park
- Rani Jhansi Marine National Park
- Saddle Peak National Park
- South Button Island National Park
- Flora
- Plant Varieties: There are 2200 varieties of plants, with 200 endemic species.
- Forests:
- Deciduous Forests: Common in the Andamans, almost absent in the Nicobars.
- Grasslands: Occur only in the Nicobars.
- South Andaman Forests: Feature epiphytic vegetation, mostly ferns and orchids.
- Middle Andaman: Characterized by moist deciduous forests.
- North Andaman: Dominated by wet evergreen forests.
- Central and South Nicobar Islands: Mostly evergreen forests.
- Fauna
- Mammals: About 50 varieties of mammals.
- Rats: The largest group with 26 species.
- Bats: Followed by 14 species.
- Breeding Species: Leatherback turtles and Nicobar megapode birds nest here during the breeding season.
- Butterflies: Home to some of the largest and most spectacular butterflies in the world.
- Mount Harriet National Park: The richest area for butterflies.
- Marine Life: The islands are enriched with corals, shells, and fishes.
- Mammals: About 50 varieties of mammals.
Strategic Importance
- Geopolitical Location: Situated at the mouth of the Malacca Strait, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands offer a strategic vantage point for monitoring and controlling maritime traffic through one of the world’s busiest waterways.
- Strategic Location:
- Sabang in Indonesia: Located 90 nautical miles southeast of Indira Point on Great Nicobar Island.
- Coco Island in Myanmar: Barely 18 nautical miles from the northernmost tip of the Andamans.
- Kra Canal in Thailand: The proposed canal would connect the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea, with its mouth about 350 nautical miles east of Port Blair.
- Malacca Strait: Connects the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, less than a day’s steaming from Port Blair.
- Strategic Chokepoints: The islands are positioned near several strategic chokepoints, including the Malacca, Sunda, Lombok, and Ombai-Wetar straits. Control over these chokepoints is essential for maritime security and trade flows in the region.
- Maritime Boundary: The islands share a maritime boundary with neighboring countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, giving India significant influence over maritime activities in these regions under UNCLOS.
- Military:
- The development of military infrastructure on the islands enhances India’s ability to project power and deter potential threats from the eastern direction, particularly from China.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), established as a tri-services command in 2001, plays a crucial role in safeguarding India’s maritime interests.
Challenges
- Lack of Impact Assessment: There are inadequate environmental impact studies and assessments of the impact on Shompen and Nicobarese tribal communities.
- Earthquake-Prone Zone: The coastline where the port and project are proposed is an earthquake-prone zone, which saw a permanent subsidence of about 15 feet during the tsunami of December 2004.
- Inadequate Consultation: The Tribal Council of the Islands was not adequately consulted, as legally required.
- Scheduled Tribes Commission: Consultations with the Scheduled Tribes Commission, mandated by Article 338(9) of the Indian Constitution, were not properly conducted.
- Shompen Policy: The Andaman and Nicobar Island’s Shompen Policy, notified by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, requires prioritizing the tribe’s welfare in large-scale development proposals.
- Forest Rights Act Violation: The project violates the Forest Rights Act (2006), which empowers the Shompen to protect, preserve, regulate, and manage the tribal reserve.
- Genocide Risk: The project could potentially result in the genocide of the Shompen.
- Opacity in Clearance Process: There is a lack of transparency and non-compliance with due process in granting statutory clearance.
- Conflict of Interest: The Secretary, Environment and Forests of the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was also the Managing Director of ANIIDCO.
- Forest Felling: The project involves the felling of 130.75 sq km of forests, which is 15% of the island’s area, affecting a nationally and globally unique rainforest ecosystem.
- Biodiversity Damage: The project would cause irreversible damage to biodiversity.
- Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 1A Violation: Parts of the project site reportedly fall under CRZ 1A (areas with turtle nesting sites, mangroves, coral reefs), which restricts the construction of ports.
Way forward
- Conduct Thorough Assessments: Ensure a comprehensive environmental impact assessment to understand the full scope of the project’s effects on the ecosystem.
- Evaluate Impacts: Assess the socio-economic and health impacts of the project on the islands and tribal groups to ensure their well-being.
- Involve Tribal Council: Integrate the Tribal Council of the Islands in all decision-making processes to respect their rights and perspectives.
- Ensure Legal Compliance: Make the environmental clearances more compliant with legal standards to uphold transparency and accountability.
- Adopt Sustainable Practices: Implement sustainable development practices to minimize environmental degradation and promote long-term ecological balance.
- Enhance Transparency: Maintain transparent communication with all stakeholders, including local communities, to build trust and ensure informed decision-making.
- Monitor and Report: Establish a system for regular monitoring and reporting of the project’s environmental and social impacts to ensure ongoing compliance and address any emerging issues promptly.
Conclusion
The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Infrastructure Project holds significant potential for economic development but poses substantial environmental and social challenges. Ensuring comprehensive impact assessments, legal compliance, and active involvement of local communities is crucial for balancing development with ecological preservation and tribal welfare.
Related PYQ
Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India’s wetlands of international importance included in the Ramsar Sites. [UPSC CSE – 2023 Mains]
Practice Question
The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Infrastructure Project has sparked significant debate due to its potential economic benefits and environmental and social impacts. Discuss the strategic importance of the project for India and critically analyze the environmental and social challenges it poses. (250 words)