Lok Sabha Question No. 918 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Clearance to Infrastructure Projects in A&N Islands
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 918

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## Clearance to Infrastructure Projects in A&N Islands

## 918. SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI: SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has accorded in-principle approval to develop infrastructure in Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Islands which would lead to the destruction of 130.75 square  kilometres  of  pristine  forest  lands  and  the  endemic  species  living  in  these forests;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  ecological  survey  or  environmental assessment  of  the  proposed  project  site  before  granting  such  clearance,  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the compensatory deforestation would be done in a different State and not on the affected island, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  about  15  percent  of  the  900  sq.  km  of  the densely  forested  area  would  be  affected,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the possible number of trees that would need to be felled; and
- (e) whether the clearance is in violation of a Supreme Court order of November 13, 2000 which ordered no further de-reservation of forests, if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)&(b) The  Central  Government  vide  letter  dated  27.10.2022  has  accorded  theInprinciple/Stage-1  approval  for  diversion  of  130.75  sq  km  forest  land  for sustainable development in Great Nicobar Island. The project is of significant strategic/national  importanceand a detailed Environmental  Impact  Assessment (EIA)  study  has  been  conducted  in  this  regard.Further,  adequate  mitigation measures have been proposedto compensate the impact of development on flora and fauna.
- (c) Since the scope of plantation in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is very limited, therefore,the  Compensatory  Afforestation  in  the  arid  landscape  and  in  the vicinity of the urban areas would provide greater ecological value.In this case, the  State  Government  of  Haryana  and  Madhya  Pradesh  have  conveyed  their consent for undertaking  Compensatory Afforestation in their respective States.
- (d) The area proposed for development is only approximately 1.5% of total area of A&N islands. Further, more than 50% i.e. 65.99 sq km of the area proposed for diversion  will  be  the  area  for  green  development  where  no  tree  felling  is envisaged. The estimated number of trees to be felled in the remaining forest area earmarked for development is 9.64 lakh. However, it is expected that about 15% of development area will remain as green and open spaces. Thus, potential tree felling would be less than 9.64 lakhs. Further this tree felling will also be done in a phased manner.
- (e)               In this case, the Central Government has accorded the In-principle approval for diversion of forest land for non-forest purpose. The same is in consonance with the orders of Hon'ble Supreme Court as any de-notification or change in legal status of the forest land is not envisaged.

*****