Urgent Petition to Save the 9.6 Lakh Trees at The Great Nicobar Islands of India

 

We, the undersigned, invite all citizens of India and the world to join us in our crucial cause to save the 9.6 lakh trees at the Great Nicobar Islands of India. We humbly request the Government of India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and all other concerned authorities of the Government of India to reconsider and independently reassess the clearances and proposals related to the construction of the International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP), international airport, power plant, and the proposed 160-square-kilometre township — including residential and hotel infrastructure — at the Great Nicobar Islands, which involves extensive deforestation and poses serious ecological, climatic and humanitarian concerns.

We further humbly submit that development at Great Nicobar should be restricted only to genuinely essential strategic and defence-related establishments, undertaken with 100% sensitivity towards the ecology of the UNESCO-recognised Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve and its centuries-old tropical rainforests. Any non-essential large-scale commercial, residential or tourism-oriented infrastructure development may kindly be reconsidered, especially when extensive alternative spaces for such projects are available on mainland India.

In addition to the environmental concerns, we must protect endangered species such as the Leatherback turtle that nests in the Nicobar Islands and preserve fragile coral ecosystems that are already at risk due to rising ocean temperatures and climate change. The proposed massive-scale deforestation is likely to further aggravate biodiversity loss, ecological imbalance and climate vulnerability in the region.

The world is presently witnessing approximately 1°C of global temperature rise, while nations collectively strive to limit warming to 1.5°C under international climate commitments .Harvard Business School Professor, Dr Rebecca Henderson, on Climate change . The destruction of one of India’s most ecologically unique tropical rainforest ecosystems risks further weakening global and regional climate resilience, biodiversity protection and natural carbon sequestration systems.

With a strong and stable democratic mandate at the helm, the Republic of India has both the opportunity and responsibility to uphold the highest standards of ecological stewardship, constitutional accountability and long-term strategic wisdom. We humbly appeal that Government of India (Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home) to ensure sustainable naval and strategic preparedness in the region without causing avoidable ecological destruction or pursuing commercially excessive and environmentally non-feasible infrastructure expansion in the fragile Great Nicobar Islands.

It is imperative to seek sustainable, ecologically sensitive and strategically balanced alternatives for development on these islands.

 

Key Issues with the Project:

The project entails –

1. the deforestation of 130 sq. km by felling of 9.6 lakh trees
2. threatens biodiversity at Gala Thea Bay
3. displaces indigenous tribes
4. lacks thorough impact assessments-ecological ,social and environmental
5. Tsunami risk-poses seismic risk in the Bay of Bengal

 

 

Let's stand together for this cause!

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[Sign the Petition]

 

 

 

The following are the details of the issues with the project:

 

The Great Nicobar project, while strategically significant and often touted as a crucial element for national security and the consolidation of India's influence in the Indian Ocean Region, raises substantial concerns beyond its touted benefits. The project encompasses urban development through residential townships and hotels, highlighting business and economic advantages. However, this focus on economic growth comes at the expense of severe ecological and social impacts that cannot be overlooked.

 

 Ecological and Environmental Impact

 

1. Deforestation and Habitat Destruction: 

   The project plans to clear approximately 130 square kilometres of forest, resulting in the felling of 960,000 trees. This massive deforestation poses a grave threat to the island's ecosystem, leading to habitat loss for numerous species and a significant reduction in biodiversity.

 

2. Biodiversity Threat at Gala Thea Bay: 

   Gala Thea Bay, a critical biodiversity hotspot, is under threat from the proposed development. The disruption of this area could have cascading effects on the local flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to the region and cannot be found elsewhere.

 

3. Insufficient Impact Assessments:

   The project lacks comprehensive ecological, social, and environmental impact assessments. The absence of thorough evaluations undermines the understanding of the long-term consequences of the development, potentially leading to irreversible damage.

 

4. Global Warming and Climate Change:

   The extensive deforestation and urbanisation contribute to an increase in global warming. The destruction of trees, which act as carbon sinks, coupled with the urban heat island effect from new constructions, exacerbates climate change, posing a global environmental threat.

 

5. Seismic and Tsunami Risks:

   The Bay of Bengal region is seismically active, and the project heightens the risk of tsunamis. This increased seismic activity poses a danger not only to the island's infrastructure but also to the lives of its inhabitants as well as to the lives of other coastal area residents of the Bay of Bengal region.

 

Social Impact

 

1. Displacement of Indigenous Tribes:

   The development threatens to displace indigenous tribes who have lived on the island for centuries. Their displacement disrupts their traditional way of life and poses significant challenges to their social and cultural identity.

 

2. Neglect of Social Welfare:

   The project's focus on economic gains overlooks the social welfare of the local communities. The displacement and disruption of indigenous populations highlight a lack of consideration for the social fabric of the island.

 

Other Details of the project for understanding are as follows :

 

Geography and Ecology:

The GNI is the Southernmost tip of India, part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago comprising 600-odd islands.

 Environment: Hilly, covered with lush rainforests, annual rainfall of around 3,500 mm.

 Biodiversity: Hosts numerous endangered and endemic species including the giant Leatherback turtle, Nicobar megapode, Great Nicobar crake, Nicobar crab-eating macaque, Nicobar scops owl and Nicobar tree shrew.

Area: 910 sq. km with mangroves and Pandan forests along the coast.

 

Indigenous Communities:

Shompen Tribe: Approximately 250 people live in interior forests, predominantly hunter-gatherers, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.

Nicobarese Community: Two groups – Great Nicobarese and Little Nicobarese, practice farming and fishing.

 

Resettlement: The Great Nicobarese were resettled in Campbell Bay after the 2004 tsunami.

Administrative Hub: Campbell Bay serves as the administrative hub, housing local offices of the Andaman and Nicobar administration and the panchayat.

 

 The Great Nicobar Islands (GNI) Project?

The GNI Project refers to the proposed mega project that aims to develop the southern end of the Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands in the Bay of Bengal by constructing a transshipment port, dual-use military-civil international airport, power plant, and a township over a span of 30 years on more than 160 sq. km of land, of which 130 sq. km is primary forest and urban amenities viz. , roads, public transport, water supply and waste management facilities, and several hotels to cater to tourists.

 

Due-process Violations by the Government of India:

1.Did not recognise the grant ownership: The island administration did not recognise or grant ownership of any forest land to local tribespeople as per FRA, a requisite step under the Forest Conservation Rules, 2017, before Stage-I clearance is granted.

• This is despite the fact that Rule 6(3)(e) of Forest Conservation Rules-2017 (FCR) requires that any diversion of forest land first requires the District Collector to recognise and vest rights to locals under the FRA.
• The legislation allows forest communities the right to control and manage the use of the forest land over which they hold titles, and their consent is mandatory for diverting it.

 

2. Inconsistencies with Stage-I Clearance : The Stage-I clearance for the project was granted in October 2022, two years after the application was received. Monthly progress reports show that the district administration did not process any claims over forest land under the FRA in the 26 months since project sanction.

 

3. Withdrawal of Consent : Weeks after the Stage-I clearance was granted, the Tribal Council at Campbell Bay withdrew the consent granted by the Gram Sabha.

 

Overall, the Great Nicobar project has the potential ecological and social costs which are profound. The extensive deforestation, threats to biodiversity, displacement of indigenous communities, insufficient impact assessments, and increased risks of seismic and tsunami events call for a re-evaluation of the project's implementation. Balancing development with environmental and social responsibility is crucial to ensure sustainable development in the region.