Kamal Ghorui
In Nicobar or in Aravalis, narrow approach to measure environmental impacts is a serious problem
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that the big development project planned for Great Nicobar does not break environmental rules. But many people believe this decision will be challenged in the Supreme Court of India.
The project is huge. It includes a port for ships, a power plant, an airport, and even a new town. Scientists and nature lovers are worried because Great Nicobar is full of rare plants and animals. It is as special as the Galapagos Islands, which are famous for helping us understand how life on Earth evolved. So this is not just any ordinary place.
The NGT said that there are no coral reefs exactly where the project will be built. It also said that nearby coral reefs can be carefully moved to another place to protect them. Out of more than 20,000 coral colonies found there, most are planned to be moved. This process could take 30 years and cost a lot of money.
But many experts disagree. They say corals are living ecosystems and cannot simply be “shifted” like furniture. The law protects corals just like it protects tigers and elephants. That protection should mean leaving them where they are, not moving them away.
The sea around Great Nicobar is already under stress because of climate change. Warmer water can damage corals, and mangrove forests are disappearing. Digging up the sea floor to build the port and cutting down rainforest trees could make things worse. Planting new trees somewhere else cannot truly replace an old, rich forest that has grown over hundreds of years.
India’s security and development needs are important. But many people feel that these goals should not come at the cost of permanently harming nature and wildlife.
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