Latest news with #GreatNicobarHolisticDevelopment
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Great Nicobar Island Container Transhipment Port notified as major port: Govt
The International Container Transhipment Port at Great Nicobar Island's Galathea Bay has been notified as a new major port, ports and shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The Great Nicobar Holistic Development project has raised environmental concerns. (AFP) 'This proposed transshipment hub with handling capacity of 16 million TEUs per annum is likely to be developed in four phases at an estimated cost of ₹43,796 crore,' Sonowal said in response to Aam Aadmi Party lawmaker Sanjay Singh Singh question about the number of major ports constructed or commissioned in the last five years, the estimated budget, actual expenditure incurred, etc. HT has reported on environmental concerns about the Great Nicobar Holistic Development project, which includes an international container transshipment terminal, an international airport, a power plant, and a township at an estimated cost of ₹81,800 crore. The Nicobar Islands fall in the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot. In August, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said that 'exemplary mitigation measures' have been incorporated to minimise the environmental impact of the project, 'keeping the strategic, national and defence interests' in mind. On Tuesday, Sonowal said no new major port was constructed or commissioned in the last five years. 'Government has approved the development of a new deep-sea port at Vadhvan in Palghar district, Maharashtra, with a container handling capacity of 23.2 million TEUs per annum at an estimated cost of ₹76,220 crore.' He said phase I of the project is expected to be completed by 2030. In response to another question, Sonowal said the $20 billion investment in maritime infrastructure, including the Vadhavan Port, offers significant strategic benefits. He added that it will reduce India's reliance on foreign trans-shipment hubs, thereby lowering transportation costs and boosting trade competitiveness by accommodating Ultra Large Container Vessels. The port will serve as a key hub for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, linking other strategic routes such as the International North-South Transport Corridor and enhancing India's economic growth and regional influence.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Centre didn't comply with NGT order on Great Nicobar project: Plea
The Union government has not complied with the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) April 3, 2023 order on revisiting the deficiencies in the environmental clearance granted to the Great Nicobar Holistic Development project, a petitioner challenging the green nod to the key project has claimed before NGT. The petitioner prayed that ecologically sensitive areas be excluded from project areas. (AFP) In a 39-page detailed submission made on July 24 by petitioner-environmentalist Ashish Kothari said the objective of this application is to seek the enforcement and implementation of the law. The petitioner highlighted that the three terms of reference for the NGT-appointed high-powered committee (HPC) were not met — specifically related to coral transplantation, environmental baseline data collection and review coastal regulation zone (CRZ) boundaries of the proposed port project. On April 3, 2023, NGT directed that clearance dated November 11, 2022 be revisited in the light of 'some unanswered deficiencies' pointed out by the appellants which need to be addressed. 'By way of instance, it is pointed out that out of 20,668 coral colonies, 16,150 are proposed to be translocated without any mention of threat to the remaining 4,518 coral colonies. It is pointed out that ICRZ Regulations prohibit destruction of corals. Further, data collected for impact assessment is only of one season as against requirement of three seasons. It is also shown that part of the project is in the CRZ IA area where Port is prohibited,' the NGT had said. HT had reported on April 7, 2023 that NGT had constituted a high-powered committee, headed by Union environment ministry secretary, to revisit the environmental clearance (EC) granted by the ministry to the Great Nicobar township and area development project. Experts, however, have questioned how a subordinate authority headed by the environment secretary revisit the green nod granted by its own ministry? In the submission to NGT, the petitioner has pointed out that several clauses of the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) Notification, 2019 and its annexure prohibit the destruction of corals. Annexure I to the notification prohibits destruction of corals, coral reefs and surrounding areas and allows coral transplantation activities only when necessary for regeneration after obtaining permission under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Activities like dredging and discharge of ballast water are also prohibited in and around coral reefs. 'Even according to the MoEFCC, the HPC has only looked at the Zoological Survey of India's (ZSI) proposal to translocate coral colonies, and has agreed with the recommendation of ZSI. The mandate of the law, the fact that coral reefs are protected and that their translocation is not permitted by law etc. have not even been considered by the HPC,' the submission said. Importantly, the petitioner has pointed out that fringing coral reefs around the island have been marked clearly in the draft ICRZ coastal land use plans prepared under the 2019 notification but they are not there in the approved land use plans. 'Even according to the MoEFCC, the ZSI's report itself states that 16,150 coral colonies need to be translocated due to the port project. The ICRZ Notification, 2019 does not permit such transplantation to facilitate or clear the area for a port. Coral reefs and their associated biodiversity are extremely sensitive and cannot be moved around to suit the convenience of project proponents,' the submission added. It further claimed that the second aspect of TOR was also not met. 'The MoEFCC and the HPC have failed to see that the requirement of comprehensive EIA, i.e, an EIA based on three season data collection, is mandated under the ICRZ Notification, 2019 and the EIA guidance manual itself requires data collection of more than one season...' it said, adding that the survey of ecology and biology was conducted between December 14 and 22, 2020, and the survey of leatherbacks was conducted between February 12 and 18, 2021 and hence the season was not covered. The third ToR was to 'Review the boundaries of the port project with respect to ICRZ Notification, 2019.' The tribunal in its April 2023 verdict has observed that 'it is also shown that part of the project is in the CRZ IA area where Port is prohibited.' The 2019 notification lists mangroves, corals and coral reefs, biologically active mud flats, turtle nesting grounds, nesting grounds of birds as CRZ IA — ecologically sensitive areas. 'It is submitted that coral reefs, turtle nesting sites, megapode (bird) nesting grounds, mangroves, etc. do not and cannot magically disappear to suit the convenience of the project proponent. It is shocking that the HPC has relied only on a report of the NCSCM, the consultant of the project proponent, to come to the conclusion that no part of the project area falls under CRZ IA,' the submission said. The petitioner also prayed that ecologically sensitive areas be excluded from project areas. 'Unless this tribunal directs the exclusion of admitted CRZ IA areas such as coral reefs along the coast, turtle nesting grounds, megapode nesting grounds, biologically active mudflats etc. from the project area, they will be converted and destroyed,' it said. The matter was heard by NGT's eastern bench on July 24. People aware of the matter said additional solicitor general (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati submitted that the ministry did not violate any law and was aware of the sensitive nature of the island's environment and has ensured that sustainable development is achieved while keeping in mind the strategic requirements to ensure national security. The hearing was adjourned and the tribunal directed the MoEFCC to produce the revised layout which excludes all the CRZ-1A areas from the port, according to lawyers. The matter will be heard again on August 6. ASG Bhati did not respond to HT's request for a comment on whether the ministry will be making a submission on other concerns raised in the application. The Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project has four major components: an international container transshipment terminal (ICCT); an international airport; a power plant; and a township. The total cost is estimated at ₹81,800 crore. The Nicobar Islands fall in the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot and cover the western half of the Indonesian archipelago. Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav in August last year said that 'exemplary mitigation measures' have been incorporated to minimise the environmental impact of the project, 'keeping the strategic, national and defence interests' in mind. .
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Another overarching panel for Great Nicobar project
The Union ministry of environment forests and climate change (MoEFCC) set up a a new 'overarching committee' last year to will ensure the implementation of the report of the high powered committee appointed by it on instructions from the National Green Tribunal to review environmental clearance conditions for the Great Nicobar Holistic Development project that has not been made public for reasons of national security. The formation of the new committee has come to light only now. In annexures submitted by MoEFCC along with its affidavit to the NGT in Ashish Kothari Vs MoEFCC on July 5, the ministry said the overarching committee was formed to oversee smooth coordination between monitoring and implementing agencies for implementation of wildlife conservation plans and tribal welfare plans as per the environmental clearance and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance for holistic development of Great Nicobar Island project. The overarching committee is headed by Chief Secretary, A & N Administration and its members include: Managing Director, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO); Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, A & N Administration; Secretary (Tribal Welfare), A & N Administration; Director (Zoological Survey of India); Director (Botanical Survey of India); Director (Wildlife Institute of India); and Executive Director (GNI), ANIIDCO as the member secretary of the committee. Interestingly, the members are the same as the high powered committee except that the high powered committee also included Secretary, MoEFCC; and nominees from ministry of shipping and Niti Aayog. To be sure, environmentalists have pointed out that the disturbing pattern of people reviewing their own decisions continues. The high-powered committee set up by NGT comprised people who were essentially reviewing their own decisions. Now, an 'overarching committee' will comprise the same people ensuring the implementation of their own report. 'The (overarching) committee shall coordinate between the Project Proponent (ANIIDCO), institutions and departments of A&N Administration for resolving issues if any for implementation of wildlife conservation plans and tribal welfare plans as per the environment and CRZ clearance for holistic development of Great Nicobar Island project,' MoEFCC's office memo dated January 2, 2024 states. The memo is also part of the court filings. The members of the new committee met on March 4 and heard presentations from various research institutions on how they will be utilising funds made available for compliance of EC and CRZ conditions. The minutes indicate that most agencies are in very early stages of hiring staff, planning the interventions etc. For example, WII was provided ₹15.72 crores by the Centre for undertaking conservation plans for the leatherback turtles, Nicobar Megapode and Saltwater Crocodiles. WII said it would recruit staff by April ; ₹24.50 crores was released to Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History which said it would start hiring staff to draft conservation plans for bird hazard risk in relation to international airport being constructed; the coconut crab; endemic tree cavity nesting birds of Nicobar archipelago; and Nicobar Long-tailed Macaque. The Ministry of Home Affairs sanctioned ₹88.69 crores in December 2024 for the first year of implementation of various conservation plans. The ministry's high powered committee report which concluded that 'the rigor of environmental appraisal has ensured that adequate environmental safeguards have been incorporated in the general and specific conditions of EC...' The detailed report was submitted to NGT in a sealed cover along with other documents and the affidavit. NGT in its judgment dated April 3, 2023 constituted the high-powered committee headed by the secretary, MoEFCC, to revisit the environmental clearance granted by the ministry to the Great Nicobar township and area development and other infrastructure projects involving an area of 16,610 hectares in the ecologically fragile islands. The report of the high-powered committee (HPC) on the Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project has not been made public as it takes into account issues and facts related to the strategic, defence and national security of the country, the Union environment ministry told the Rajya Sabha last year. 'Why are there so many committees being formed but somehow their members are the same people who have facilitated, proposed or cleared the project? Further, the minutes of the meetings of monitoring committees are not being uploaded on ANIIDCO's website as mandated by the EC or in the case of the High Powered Committee the report is being kept confidential. Why is there so much secrecy around the project and who is ensuring accountability?' asked a researcher who is tracking the project. The Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project has four major components : an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICCT); an international airport; a power plant; and a township. There is also a Trunk Infrastructure Road that will cut through Great Nicobar Island. The total cost is estimated at ₹81,800 crore. The Nicobar Islands fall in the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot and cover the western half of the Indonesian archipelago.
