Debate Over Rainforest Density Amid Nicobar Development Project

Why in the news?

Ecologists are concerned about the environmental impact of felling millions of trees for the Great Nicobar development project, sparking debates over rainforest density and ecosystem preservation.

Debate Over Rainforest Density Amid Nicobar Development Project

About Great Nicobar Development Project:

  • Four major projects are planned: International Container Transhipment Terminal, Greenfield Airport, Gas and Solar Power Plants, and Township development.
  • The project requires10 sq km of land, of which 130.75 sq km is forest area.
  • Tree felling will affect76 sq km, with 10.45 sq km targeted in Phase 1 (2025-2035).

Concerns Over Environmental Impact

  • Around 500,000 trees may be felled in Phase 1, with an estimated 2 million total.
  • Experts fear the loss of complex ecosystems, including lichens, orchids, and mosses.
  • Government officials emphasise mitigation efforts, citing national security and development needs.

Great Nicobar Island: Key points

  • Southernmost and largest Nicobar Island, covering 910 sq km of tropical rainforest.
  • Indira Point, India’s southernmost point, is 90 nautical miles from Sumatra, Indonesia.
  • The Andaman and Nicobar Islands consist of 836 islands, separated by the 150 km-wide 10° Channel.
  • Home to national parks, biosphere reserves, and tribal groups like Shompen, Onge, and Nicobarese.

About Great Nicobar Island Project (GNI):

  • Launched in 2021, this mega project aims to develop infrastructure at the southern end of Great Nicobar.
  • Features include an International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT), international airport, township, and a 450 MVA gas/solar power plant.
  • The site for the ICTT and power plant is at Galathea Bay, with no human habitation.

Strategic Importance:

  • Located near the Malacca Strait, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, positioning Great Nicobar for a role in global cargo transshipment.
  • Enhances India’s military presence and surveillance, securing vital choke points like the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits.
  • India’s security concerns focus on China’s military expansion in the region, particularly the Coco Islands, 55 km from Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/nicobar-project-contractors-stir-up-concerns/