Question : Costal City in Little Andaman

(a) whether the Government is planning to develop a new greenfield coastal city in Little Andaman Island and has agreed to denotify about six sq kms of the tribal reserve on Little Andaman, if so, the details thereof including the blueprint of the vision document and the ‘techno-economic-feasibility’ reports of the transshipment port;

(b) whether the Government conducted any Impact Assessment of the project, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the project involve displacement of the PVTG Onge Tribals, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Standing Committee of the NBWL denotified the entire Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to allow for the construction of the port even while it falls under (CRZ)-I, the zone with maximum protection, if so,
the details thereof; and

(e) whether the project not lead to irreversible damage of various endangered species like the Giant leatherback turtle and the Nicobar megapode, if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) & (b) No Sir.
(c) Does not arise.
(d) & (e) Andaman and Nicobar Administration had notified the intention to declare Galathea Bay as Wildlife Sanctuary vide notification dated 15.09.1997. Based on the recommendations of the National Board for Wild Life, the said intention notification has been withdrawn by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
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