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The committee has, removed the first hurdle faced by the project

Hurdle

The Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC) - Infrastructure of the Ministry of Environment, Forestand Climate Change (MoEFCC) has flagged serious concerns about NITI Aayog’s ambitious project for Great Nicobar Island (‘NITI Aayog vision for Great Nicobar ignores tribal, ecological concerns)

Recommendation

It has “recommended” it “for grant of terms of reference (TOR)” for Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) studies, which in the first instance will include baseline studies over three months.

Concern

• The committee’s concerns were both procedural and substantive.
• The missing information included the minutes of the meeting note, details of the township to be developed over 149 sq. km., a note on seismic and tsunami hazards, freshwater requirement details (6.5 lakh people are envisaged to finally inhabit the island when the present population is only 8,500; the current total population of the entire island chain is less than 4.5 lakh), and details of the impact on the Giant Leatherback turtle.
• The committee also noted that there were no details of the trees to be felled — a number that could run into millions since 130 sq. km. of the project area has some of the finest tropical forests in India.

Action

• The need for an independent assessment of terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
• A study on the impact of dredging, reclamation and port operations, including oil spills (to be carried out by nationally recognised institutions such as the Wildlife Institute of India.
• The need for studies of alternative sites for the port with a focus on environmental and ecological impact, especially on turtles, analysis of risk-handling capabilities.
• A seismic and tsunami hazard map
• A disaster management plan.

Source: The Hindu