Great Nicobar project: Jairam Ramesh urges Rajnath Singh to reconsider INZ Baaz expansion
Environment versus development is a classic CLAT theme, and here it is live. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the Great Nicobar Island project, urging that the existing INS Baaz naval air station be expanded instead of building a brand-new airport. His point is that the planned airport would cut forested hills and damage protected forest and the land of the Shompen, a vulnerable tribal group. So for your CLAT prep, just remember the Great Nicobar project pits strategic infrastructure against ecology and tribal rights, and groups like the Shompen are particularly vulnerable communities.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday wrote to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to reconsider the government’s rejection of the full expansion of INS Baaz Naval Air Station on the Great Nicobar Island, as doing so would minimize the ecological impacts of the Great Nicobar Island project compared to the greenfield airport planned at Gandhi Nagar -Shastri Nagar.
Referring to recent media reports based on the Defence Ministry’s assertion that the INS Baaz on Campbell Baycould not be extended beyond 4,500 feet due to ecological impacts, the former environment minister questioned it and pointed out the ecological impacts of the airport site chosen by the Centre.
Ramesh also criticised the ministry for taking “over six years” to make a statement on theproposed airport on Great Nicobar Island (GNI). He stated that it was compelled to do so because the “disastrous ecological impacts” of GNI project have become all too evident and have invited widespread concern.
“I request you to reconsider your rejection of the full expansion of INZ Baaz Runway that has been recommended by some distinguished naval personnel themselves,” theRajya SabhaMP said.
Defence Ministry sources had earlier said that INS Baaz will not be expanded to the planned 10,000 ft as it requires significant land reclamation and impacts the tribal area, flora, and fauna.
Ramesh said that the proposed dual-use purpose airport would require cutting two forest-covered hills of 115 metres, affect 225 acres of protected forest and 130 acres of deemed forest, which are part of the territory of the Shompen tribal community.
“The proposed site sits directly on about 142 acres of Island Coastal Regulation Zone – 1A, which enjoys the highest protection under the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019, and that includes turtle nesting beaches, corals, and nesting grounds of the endangered Nicobar Megapode,” he said.
Ramesh added that the airport site also affects 234 ex-servicemen settler families, who reside in two villages, and they will have to undergo relocation for a third time in recent years.
Moreover, the site, he said, was not subject to a serious and systematic environmental impact assessment, especially since Great Nicobar has been designated as an Important Bird Area.
An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change.
Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics.... Read More