10-02-2021 | 13:53 PM
NITI Aayog's plan for Little Andaman alarms conservationists
Context
Recently, a plan named the Sustainable Development of Little Andaman Island Vision Document by NITI Aayog for the sustainable and holistic development of the 680 sq. kms, fragile Little Andaman Island in the Andaman and Nicobar island group has raised concerns among conservationists.
Key Highlights
The Prime Minister earlier in 2020, declared that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be developed as a “maritime and startup hub”.
NITI Aayog has planned to build a new greenfield coastal city. It has planned to develop the city as a free trade zone and it will also compete with Singapore and Hong Kong.
The developmental plan has been divided into three zones:
Zone 1: It is being developed as the monetary district and is spread over 102 sq. kms in the east coast of Little Andaman. It would also comprise of medi metropolis and can embody an aerocity, tourism and hospital district.
Zone 2: It is a leisure zone that is spread over 85 sq. kms of pristine forest. It would comprise a movie metropolis, a residential district and a tourism Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Zone 3: It would be a nature zone and spread over 52 sq. kms of pristine forest.
The Purpose of the plan is:
To leverage the strategic location and natural features of the island as the islands are critical for India’s security because of their strategic location in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
To provide better infrastructure and connectivity will help India enhance its military and naval strength in the islands.
Challenges
Lack of good connectivity with Indian mainland and world cities.
Fragile biodiversity and natural ecosystems and certain Supreme Court notifications which pose an obstacle to development.
Another crucial challenge is the presence of indigenous tribes and concerns for their welfare.
95% of Little Andaman is covered in forest and a large part of which is the pristine evergreen sort. Some 640 sq. kms of the island is Reserve Forest under the Indian Forest Act 1927, and almost 450 sq. kms is protected because of the Onge Tribal Reserve, creating a singular and uncommon socio-ecological-historical complex of high importance.
