NGT Nod To Great Nicobar Project: NGT approved the Great Nicobar Project considering it strategically important, Congress and many environmental activists have been protesting.

New Delhi. Major projects including the proposed International Container Transshipment Terminal on Great Nicobar Island have been approved by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The Kolkata-based Eastern Zonal Bench of the NGT on Monday approved the Great Nicobar Project and said that all safeguards have been taken in the environmental clearance already given for the project. For this reason there is no need for intervention.

An international container transshipment terminal will be built in the Great Nicobar Island Project. That is, there will be facility to transfer containers from one ship to another. Apart from this, airport and township are also to be built here. Apart from this, a 450 MVA gas and solar power plant is also to be built in Great Nicobar. About 10 lakh trees will have to be cut for the project. Some Congress leaders and environmental activists have been opposing the Great Nicobar Project, claiming it will cause deforestation and greater damage to the environment. They allege that the Great Nicobar Project will harm the marine environment. Whereas, it is strategically important for India to complete the Great Nicobar Project.

During the first round of hearing related to the Great Nicobar Project, the NGT had clearly refused to interfere in the matter of environmental clearance. NGT has acknowledged that the Great Nicobar Project is important from a national and strategic perspective. NGT has said that environmental protection should not be compromised. The NGT has said that the environmental clearance of the Great Nicobar Project specifically protects the conservation of the leatherback sea turtle, conservation of the Nicobar megapod bird, conservation of the salt water crocodile, conservation of the Nicobar macaque and robber crab, shifting of mangroves to other places, shifting of coral reefs to other places as well as the interests of the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes living there. NGT has ordered that there should be no erosion or alteration in the coastline for the project. Also, the beaches should also be safe.

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