Government wants to cause an ecological disaster: Jairam Ramesh on the Great Nicobar project

Aerial view from Indira Point in Great Nicobar. | Photo credit: Getty Images

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has written to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav regarding the Great Nicobar Island infrastructure project, saying the high-powered panel tasked with reviewing the environmental clearance for the project was “biased” in its composition and did not carry out further evaluation. .

Mr. Ramesh also expressed “deep concern” about the expressions of interest being invited even as the National Green Tribunal considered the petition earlier.

In his letter to Mr. Yadav, he also questioned the credibility, composition and conclusions of the high-powered committee (HPC) tasked to re-examine the environmental clearance given to the Great Nicobar Island infrastructure project.

“It is also a strong point, when the NGT was working on the previous petition, ANIIDCO had invited expression of interest which is a precursor to clearing about 65 square km of forest rich in biodiversity. I am sure the Government of India “Hell wants to cause an ecological and humanitarian disaster in our country,” said the former Minister of Environment.

Mr. Ramesh cited media reports stating that the Ministry has submitted a counter affidavit to the east zone bench of the NGT saying that the permission granted for the Great Nicobar infrastructure project does not violate the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) notification, 2019 and the NGT’s order to visit the green clearance of the project has followed.

“I read a news report about the counter-affidavit filed by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change in the National Green Tribunal on the Great Nicobar Island Development Project with which there had been a detailed exchange earlier. “First of all, I was surprised that the High-Powered Committee (HPC) constituted by MoEF&CC under the direction of NGT to review the environment and CRZ does not engage independent institutions or experts while NGT gives flexibility to do so,” he said.

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“It is wonderful that the HPC has members of (i) NITI Aayog who developed the project; (ii) project proponent Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO); (iii) representative of the Expert Appraisal Committee of MOEF&CC. who recommended the first clearance; and (iv) MOEF&CC who gave the said clearance.

“The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has clearly watered down the NGT’s directive and given very limited terms of reference for HPC. As I recall, the NGT has only given ‘with examples’ only three ‘unanswered deficiencies’. The reference has been limited to only three examples which was cited by the NGT in its order which led to the constitution of the HPC,” he said.

“The HPC, however, biased by its composition, has not conducted a meaningful and comprehensive re-evaluation as directed,” he said.

“The HPC report has been kept secret. I don’t understand this: when the original process to give its own cleaning is not classified as ‘privileged and confidential’, how to review, whatever the defects, and also assigned by the court. How can a city that focuses on promoting tourism, commercial trans-shipment ports and power plants were suddenly announced as ‘strategic projects’ without public debate?

“As you know, the categorization of coastal areas into zones is based on ecological sensitivity. Construction activities are prohibited in certain zones. According to the NGT order of April 2023, more than 7 square km of the total area of ​​the project falls in the prohibited zone. Ramesh said in a letter dated September 28.

Mr. Ramesh and Mr. Yadav have had several exchanges through letters regarding the project.

Mr. Ramesh on August 27 has reversed the statement of the Ministry of Environment that the clearances for the Great Nicobar Island project were given after a careful consideration, saying that the study of Environmental Impact Assessment to appear to have been primed to ensure clearance in the form proposed by the NITI Aayog.

In a 10-page letter to Mr. Yadav, he said that even if they accept the strategic importance and importance of the project, it does not preclude any discussion of the impact on the island’s tribal communities and natural ecosystems.

“No one can oppose ‘strategic balance’ but surely a better balance between them and ecological concerns can and should be done, which is certainly not the case in this case,” he said in a communication with Yadav that was extended from several exchanges of letters. between the two.

In response to Mr Ramesh’s letter dated August 10, Mr Yadav, on August 21, said the environment and forest clearances given by his ministry had “withstood judicial scrutiny”.