Great Nicobar island projects worth Rs 750 billion green lighted

The controversial 16,610 ha project on Great Nicobar island has been approved by a panel of the environment ministry. The Rs 750 billion project will reportedly include the construction of a greenfield international airport, an international container terminal, a township, and a power plant. In recent years, the Indian Ocean has become a strategic hotspot. As the strategic value of this IOR grows, a critical mass of development in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is required to strengthen India's regional presence. In 1989, the island was designated a biosphere reserve, and in 2013, it was added to UNESCO's man and biosphere programme. The projects will necessitate the removal of over 850,000 trees as well as the destruction of 12-20 ha of mangrove forests. This will lead to a considerable loss to corals and will claim over 298 ha of the sea bed.

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