Nicobar

Great Nicobar project recipe for ecological, humanitarian disaster: Ramesh

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday said the present design of the Great Nicobar Island infrastructure project "endangers ecology" in a "needlessly unacceptable manner". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh on X cited the views of former Chief of Navy Admiral Arun Prakash, who has stated that it is both desirable and possible to bolster security without harming ecology. Sharing a report on Prakash's remarks, Ramesh said on X, "These views on the very controversial Greater Nicobar Integrated Development Project expressed by a very distinguished former Chief of the Indian Navy, Admiral Arun Prakash, who has served in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands merits serious attention. His basic point is this: It is both desirable and possible to bolster security without harming ecology." "The present design of the project being pushed through by the non-biological PM endangers ecology in a needlessly unacceptable manner," Ramesh said. The Congress general .

Govt hell-bent on inflicting ecological disaster: Ramesh on Nicobar project

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has written to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav over the Great Nicobar Island infrastructure project, alleging the high-powered panel tasked to revisit environmental clearances to the project was "biased" in its very composition and did not carry out any meaningful reassessment. Ramesh also expressed "grave concern" over expressions of interest being invited even as the National Green Tribunal deliberates on petitions before it. In his letter to Yadav, Ramesh also questioned the credibility, composition, and conclusions of a high-powered committee (HPC) tasked to revisit the environmental clearances granted to the Great Nicobar Island infrastructure project. "It is also a matter of grave concern that while the NGT deliberates on petitions before it, ANIIDCO has already invited expressions of interest that is a precursor for the clearing of around 65 square km of biodiversity-rich forests. I believe the Government of India is hell-bent on ...

Govt defends Great Nicobar project amid criticism, cites national interest

The project could also effect a potential genocide of the Shompen tribe, Ramesh had alleged, echoing concerns of various activists over the past year

Bhupender Yadav responds to Jairam's concerns over Great Nicobar project

Yadav noted that despite the diversion of forest land for the project, 82 per cent of the Great Nicobar area remains under protected forests

Jairam Ramesh calls for review of Great Nicobar Island project by panels

Asserting that the mega infra project in Great Nicobar Island is a "grave threat" to the natural ecosystem, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has urged Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to suspend all clearances accorded to the project and called for its thorough and impartial review, including by the parliamentary committees concerned. In a letter to Yadav, former environment minister Ramesh said the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change must fulfil its dharma, and not allow itself to be reduced to becoming a project proponent, especially when the project has decidedly "disastrous" human, social and ecological consequences. "You may recall our recent exchange in the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour. The Union Government's proposed Rs. 72,000 crore 'Mega Infra Project' in Great Nicobar Island is a grave threat to Great Nicobar Island's tribal communities and natural ecosystem," Ramesh said. The project can have "catastrophic ecological and human consequences" and has be

Govt plans to operationalise Car Nicobar, 11 other airports under UDAN

The government plans to operationalise 12 more airports across 8 states and Union Territories, including one at Shibpur in Car Nicobar, under the regional air connectivity scheme this year. Currently, 579 routes connecting 85 airports -- including 13 heliports and 2 water aerodromes -- have been operationalised under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme that was introduced in 2016. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said, UDAN is an ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conducted from time to time to cover more destinations/stations and routes. "Revival/upgradation of unserved and underserved airports is undertaken upon its identification through valid bid and award to the Selected Airline Operator," he said. Under UDAN, he said 12 airports are likely to be operationalised this year, including one at Shibpur, Car Nicobar in Andaman & Nicobar Island. Others include Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh), Rewa and Datia ...

Congress demands thorough impartial review of Great Nicobar infra project

The Congress on Sunday termed the proposed Great Nicobar infrastructure project an "environmental and humanitarian disaster" and called for its thorough impartial review, including by the parliamentary committees concerned. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which claimed that a high-powered committee (HPC), appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and tasked with revisiting the green clearance for the Great Nicobar infrastructure project, has concluded that a proposed transshipment port does not fall in the Island Coastal Regulation Zone-IA (ICRZ-IA), where ports are prohibited, but is in ICRZ-IB where these are permitted. In a post on X, Ramesh said, "These are simply games being played at the behest of the Sutradhar, who is pushing for this environmental and humanitarian disaster that the Great Nicobar Mega Infra Project is." "Several questions arise -- How can land categorisation change like this? Surely, some sanctity must be given to the

Southwest monsoon rainfall makes onset over Nicobar Islands, says IMD

Southwest monsoon, the lifeline of India's farm-based economy, on Sunday made its onset over the Nicobar Islands, the southernmost region of the country, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said here. "Southwest monsoon has advanced into some parts of the Maldives, and the Comorin area and some parts of the South Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands and South Andaman Sea on Sunday," the weather office said. The annual rainfall phenomenon is expected to reach Kerala by May 31. The date of monsoon onset over Kerala has varied widely over the last 150 years, the earliest being May 11 in 1918, and the most delayed being June 18 in 1972, according to IMD data. The rain-bearing system arrived in the southern state on June 8 last year, May 29 in 2022, June 3 in 2021 and June 1 in 2020. Last month, the IMD had forecast above-normal rain in the monsoon season in India with favourable La Nina conditions, cooling of equatorial Pacific Ocean, expected to set in by August-September. La Nina ..

Review committee set to clear Rs 41,000 crore Nicobar Port project

On April 3, the Kolkata Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) put a two-month stay on any further work in the EC granted to the project

Third earthquake in 2 days hits Nicobar Island at magnitude of 4.6

The earthquake occurred at around 2.26 AM (IST)

L&T, Afcons, JSW eye Great Nicobar project despite environmental hurdles

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) stayed the Rs 72,000 crore Great Nicobar Development Plan, which includes the project for building a trans-shipment hub

Earthquake of 4.7 magnitude strikes Mizoram's Champhai

According to NCS, the earthquake hit Champhai at 6:16 am

After 4.1, another earthquake of 5.3 magnitude strikes Nicobar Island

A second earthquake of magnitude 5.3 on the Ritcher scale occurred at a depth of 10 km, Nicobar Island on Sunday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).The earthquake occurred at around 4:01 pm."Earthquake of Magnitude:5.3, Occurred on 09-04-2023, 16:01:21 IST, Lat: 9.01 & Long: 94.03, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Nicobar Islands, for more information Download the BhooKamp App," tweeted NCS.A few hours ago, an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 on the Ritcher scale occurred at a depth of 10 km, Nicobar Island.The earthquake occurred at around 2.59 pm."Earthquake of Magnitude:4.1, Occurred on 09-04-2023, 14:59:46 IST, Lat: 9.01 & Long: 94.18, Depth: 10 Km, Nicobar Island, India," tweeted NCS.

Development concerns

Nicobar project must be reconsidered

How the dodo might return with the Nicobar pigeon as its surrogate mother

A 'de-extinction' firm plans to also bring back the Tasmanian wolf and woolly mammoth

Projects worth Rs 75,000 crore on Great Nicobar island shown green flag

The projects will need the felling of over 800,000 trees and the loss of 12-20 hectares of mangrove forests, leading to a considerable loss to corals and claiming over 298 hectares of the sea bed

Head to the new Nicobar store for a tropical statement

Nicobar, a new brand from the Good Earth stable, hopes to bring earthy tones into the home and wardrobe