Wildlife sanctuary in the Great Nicobar Island made to Vanish

The Great Nicobar Island's proposed transshipment port project has raised significant legal and environmental concerns. The project site, originally classified as CRZ-1A—a zone meant for the highest level of coastal protection—has seen changes in designation to facilitate large-scale construction. This shift has sparked controversy over regulatory compliance and environmental impact.

Environmental and Legal Issues

• CRZ-1A Designation: Galathea Bay, the site for the proposed port, was classified under CRZ-1A, which restricts large construction due to its ecological significance, including turtle nesting sites and coral reefs.
• Denotification of Sanctuary: The area, once designated as a wildlife sanctuary, was denotified in January 2021, ostensibly to clear the way for the port project despite ongoing environmental concerns.
• Controversial Clearance: Despite the known ecological value of the area, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted environmental clearance in November 2022, which was later contested in the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Regulatory Maneuvers

• High-Powered Committee: The NGT appointed a High-Powered Committee (HPC) to review the environmental clearance, but the committee’s members included officials from agencies involved in the project’s approval, raising questions about impartiality.
• Ground Truthing Survey: A survey by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) reportedly concluded that the project area did not fall under CRZ-1A, contradicting previous assessments and allowing the port project to proceed.
• Reclassification of Land: Despite the continued presence of significant ecological features like coral colonies and nesting sites, the reclassification of the area from CRZ-1A to a less restrictive category effectively legitimizes the project’s construction.

Broader Implications

• Environmental Impact: The project’s approval amid ongoing ecological concerns threatens the region’s biodiversity and undermines conservation efforts for endangered species like the giant leatherback turtle.
• Regulatory Integrity: The shifting designations and approval processes suggest a troubling pattern of regulatory manipulation to favor commercial interests over environmental protection.
• Public Trust: Such maneuvers risk eroding public confidence in environmental governance and the effectiveness of regulatory frameworks intended to safeguard critical ecosystems.

Mains Question

Q. Evaluate the implications of recent regulatory changes and environmental clearance decisions regarding the transshipment port project in Great Nicobar Island. How do these developments affect environmental conservation and the integrity of regulatory processes in India?