Context

Recently, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted an in-principle (Stage 1) clearance for the diversion of 130.75 sq. km of forest in Great Nicobar Island for the mega ?72,000-crore Infrastructure project.

About

About The Proposed Project:

• The proposed mega infrastructure project involves the construction of;
• A trans-shipment hub (the International Container Trans-shipment Terminal or ICTT) and,
• Three other interlinked projects: a Greenfield international airport, a township and associated infrastructure, and a gas-diesel-solar power plant.
• These will come up on the eastern side of the Great Nicobar Island, including Galathea Bay.
  
  

What were the Concerns associated with the Project?

• Compromised ecosystem: 8,52,245 trees are likely to be cut down for the project and about 130 square kilometers forest land will be diverted. Further, almost 300 hectares of land will be reclaimed by dredging the ocean.
• Affected wildlife: Nicobar long-tailed macaque, Crab-eating Macaque, Nicobar Tree Shrew, Dugong, Nicobar Megapode, Serpent Eagle, saltwater crocodile, marine turtles, and Reticulated Python.
• Threat to local people: Along with more than 1,700 people will be affected due to the project, mostly of the indigenous Nicobari and Shompen communities.