Sign In
Learn bits
Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

10/11/22 14:12 PM IST

Nicobar project gets assent for diversion of 130 sq km of forest

In News 
  • The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEFCC) has granted an in-principle clearance for the diversion of 130 sq km of forest in Great Nicobar Island for the mega project.
About Mega Project
  • The Mega Project in Great Nicobar Island includes a transhipment port, an airport, a power plant and a greenfield township.
  • The project is being implemented by Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation under a vision plan conceived by the NITI Aayog. 
Concerns 
  • Firstly, the area of the project is nearly 15% of the thickly forested Great Nicobar Island which is spread over 900 sq km. This is one of the largest single such forest diversions in recent times.
  • It is nearly a quarter of all the forest land being diverted in the past three years across the country and 65% of the 203 sq km of forest land diverted in the three-year period 2015-18.
  • Secondly, the ministry’s own estimates suggest that 8.5 lakh trees will have to be cut in Great Nicobar for this project. This is doubly significant because these are primary evergreen tropical forests with high biological diversity and also high endemism.
  • Thirdly, the project area is home to rare flora and fauna. These include the leatherback sea turtles, Nicobar megapode (a flightless bird endemic to the Nicobar islands), Nicobar Macaque and saltwater crocodiles.
Great Nicobar
  •  Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of the Nicobar Islands Archipelago.
  • It has the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
  • The Mongoloid Shompen Tribe, about 200 in number, live in the forests of the biosphere reserve, particularly along the rivers and streams.
Source- The Hindu 

More Related Current Affairs View All

13 Aug

Working of satellite internet

'Satellite internet is revolutionizing how we connect, extending high-speed access to virtually every corner of the globe, regardless of location.' Imagine getting online from t

Read More

13 Aug

CBSE’s plan for open-book exams

'The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially approved the introduction of Open-Book Assessments (OBAs) for Class 9 students starting from the 2026-27 academic se

Read More

12 Aug

Stray dog problem

'The Supreme Court  directed the Delhi government, civic bodies, and authorities of Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad to round up and move stray dogs to shelters, underlining the

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps