Environmental Controversy in the Great Nicobar Island

Source-This post on Environmental Controversy in the Great Nicobar Island has been created based on the article “How a wildlife sanctuary in the Great Nicobar Island was made to vanish” published in “The Indian Express” on 14 August 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3- Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Context-The article highlights how the Great Nicobar Island port project reflects larger problems in environmental governance and regulatory manipulation. The changes made to legal and administrative rules to allow this project cast doubt on the effectiveness of environmental protection measures.

The proposed port site at Galathea Bay is vital for wildlife. It is a key nesting ground for the giant leatherback sea turtle (the world’s largest sea turtle) and three other sea turtle species. The area also has important coral reefs, mangroves, and is home to the Nicobar megapode bird. In 1997, Galathea Bay was proposed as a wildlife sanctuary, underscoring its CRZ-1A protection status.

What is Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Classification?

These are protected coastal regions, including wildlife sanctuaries, mangrove forests, and turtle-nesting sites, where large construction projects are not allowed.

What are the issues?

1) Denotification: – In January 2021, Galathea Bay’s wildlife sanctuary status was removed, even though turtles still nest there, and important coral and mangrove ecosystems are present. This change allowed the port project to move forward.

2) Environmental Clearance: In November 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved the Rs 42,000 crore port project. This approval was contested because it breached CRZ-1A restrictions.

3) National Green Tribunal (NGT) Involvement: The NGT noted that the project site had 20,668 coral colonies and was in a CRZ-1A area where port construction is banned. It set up a high-powered committee to review the project, but concerns were raised about conflicts of interest because some committee members were from agencies that had already approved the project.

Read More- Importance of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

What steps were taken by the authorities to resolve the issues?

1) Scientific Records and Reports- Reports from the Andaman and Nicobar Coastal Zone Management Authority and the NCSCM confirmed that the site was still CRZ-1A, which prohibits port construction. However, a recent NCSCM survey reclassified the area as CRZ-1B, where port construction is permitted, allowing the project to move forward.

2) Final Ruling and Project Approval- The High-Powered Committee found that the NCSCM’s report reclassified the area as CRZ-1B, which allows construction. This change was used to justify the port project, even though ecological concerns remained.

Question for practice

What is the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Classification, and what problems does it face? What measures have authorities implemented to address these issues?