Expert panel defers clearance to Andaman resort project

Expert panel defers clearance to Andaman resort project

1. Clearance for the proposal by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCL) to develop a premium an Island Resort at Lalaji Bay, Long Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been deferred by an Expert committee of the Union Environment Ministry
2. The project has been postponed on the grounds that the area is ecologically fragile, rich in biodiversity and solid waste management is a major concern and thus it necessitates a field visit to assess the potential impact of tourism on the area.
3. Environmentalist have also raised concerns over Coastal Regulation Zone 2018 notification as it had allowed infrastructure development along the Indian coasts, thus putting the fragile coastal ecology at stake.
4. A NITI Aayog report notes that though the footfall of domestic tourists in Andaman and Nicobar Islands rose steadily between 2011 and 2016, the arrival of foreign tourists have remained stagnant.
5. In order to boost tourism, the Centre has revived an Island Development Agency that is mandated with coordinating infrastructure projects in Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.