Lok Sabha Question No. 2189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Implications of Great Nicobar Island Projects
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

- (a) to (e)
- i. The 'in-principle' approval for this project has been received from the Department of Expenditure (DoE) on 08.08.2023 for the project meant for Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island with the tentative cost of Rs 81,000 Crores over a span of 30 years.

## GOVERNEMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2189 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## IMPLICATIONS OF GREAT NICOBAR ISLAND PROJECTS

## 2189. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) the  timeline  for  completion  of  the  Rs.72,000  crore  Great  Nicobar  Island  megainfrastructure project including the international container transshipment port, cruise terminal, airport and tourism facilities;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted an assessment of the project's efficacy in achieving strategic, economic and tourism goals, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the reasons for denial of RTI requests by the Government regarding environmental clearances on the grounds of strategic and security concerns;
- (d) the details of measures being taken to protect the rights, culture and welfare of the indigenous tribes of Great Nicobar Island amidst large-scale development activities; and
- (e) whether the Government has sought consultations or approvals from experts or stakeholders  regarding  the  potential  environmental  and  social  impacts,  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- ii. The decision on the proposal involving development of Great Nicobar Island project has been taken after due consideration of potential environmental and social impacts and also taking into account the significant strategic, defence and national importance of these developmental projects. The environmental clearance has been granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for development of International Airport on 04.11.2022 and for International Container Transshipment Port  (ICTP),  Township  and  Power  Plant  on  11.11.2022.  The  process  of  prior environmental  clearance  involves  an  examination  of  the  project  for  assessment  of impacts  and  preparation  of  an  environmental  management  plan  (EMP)  through different stages such as screening, scoping, public consultation, and appraisal.
- iii. Several  studies  were  conducted  to  carry  out  the  environmental  impact  assessment (EIA) and studies regarding their consequent mitigation measures were undertaken by the top statutory and non-statutory bodies. A detailed scrutiny of the EIA/EMP report took  place  during  the  appraisal  of  the  project  by  an  independent  Expert  Appraisal Committee (EAC) having experts from the field of science and engineering.
- iv. Additionally,  three  independent  Monitoring  Committees  viz  Committee  to  oversee pollution related matters; Committee to oversee biodiversity related matters; Committee  to  oversee  welfare  and  issues  related  to  Shompen  and  Nicobarese;  as prescribed  in  the  Environmental  Clearance  to  oversee  the  implementation  of  EMP have  already  been  constituted  and  regular  meetings  of  these  Committees  are  being held.
- v. It  is  also  stated  that  the  subject  matter  of  Environmental  Clearance  and  welfare  of tribal  communities  in  the  Great  Nicobar  Island  is  sub-judice  in  the  Hon'ble  High Court of  Kolkata  bearing  WP  (P)  No.  12  of  2024  titled  Meena  Gupta  vs  Union  of India & Ors and in National Green Tribunal vide Application No 93/2024/EZ filed by Ashish Kothari before the National Green Tribunal, Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata.

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