Amid the ongoing debate between the Opposition and the Centre regarding the Great Nicobar Island Project, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated on Tuesday that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has failed to address the "core concerns" raised about the project, which will "no doubt displace tribal communities" and cause widespread ecological harm to the area.
The Congress General Secretary in charge of communications alleged a "lack of understanding" of the needs of the indigenous people and the bio-geophysical diversity of Great Nicobar. He claimed that certain scientists in public institutions have reported being pressured to provide a clean bill of health for the project, with some even resigning due to such demands.
"The environmental impact assessment conducted was rushed, incomplete, and flawed. The fact that further impact studies have been mandated after the project has been granted clearance shows up its limitations. It is surprising that the assessment began even before terms of reference for it were issued," the Congress leader said in a post on X.
However, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav has stated that the proposed project, which is of "strategic, defence and national importance," will transform Great Nicobar into a major hub for maritime and air connectivity without posing a threat to the island’s tribal groups, will not "come in the way of any species," and does not endanger the eco-sensitive region.
Jairam Ramesh has also criticised the concept of compensatory afforestation, calling it a "bogus equivalence" to suggest that planting trees in Haryana could offset the felling of trees in Great Nicobar.
"Ecologically, planting trees in Haryana (which needs to be done anyway) will just not compensate for clear-felling of multi-species, biodiversity-rich forests in the Great Nicobar Island. It is really a bogus equivalence," the Rajya Sabha MP said.
He further noted, "Scientists in public institutions themselves have spoken about being asked to provide reports favourable to the project, some even having to resign due to pressure to provide a clean chit to the project.
"The debate over alleged ecological damage to the region has been ongoing for the past week, with Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi raising concerns about the project in an article in The Hindu on 8 September. Four days later, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav responded in the same publication.
In her article, Congress MP Sonia Gandhi described the proposed project as a "planned misadventure" that poses an existential threat to the indigenous communities and the unique flora and fauna ecosystem of the region.
The party’s parliamentary chairperson alleged that the Nicobarese Shompen Tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), will be permanently displaced due to the project. She stated that the island’s Shompen policy, which prioritises the tribe’s welfare and integrity when considering large-scale projects, has been disregarded, as the project proposes to de-notify a "significant part of the tribal reserve.
"In response, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav addressed concerns about the project. In an article published on September 12 in the same newspaper, he stated that the interests of the indigenous communities will not be compromised and that a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) were conducted before the project was approved.
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"Due consultation with tribal experts which includes the Anthropological Survey of India has been done in order to ensure the safety, protection, welfare and well-being of the PVTGs in the wake of holistic development of the Great Nicobar Island Project," the union minister said in the article.
He also noted that the development plan aligns with the Shompen policy of 2015, with necessary consultations conducted with the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs. He highlighted that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands already have a recorded forest cover of over 75 per cent of their geographical area, and approximately 97.30 square kilometres of land have been identified to divert around 48.65 square kilometres of forest land.
According to the minister, approximately 7.11 lakh trees are estimated to be felled across 49.86 square kilometres of land, while 18.65 lakh trees are to be ‘diverted’. Additionally, an area of 65.99 square kilometres has been designated where no tree felling is planned.
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