Govt seeks larger bench for Nicobar infra project

NEW DELHI: The Union environment ministry has asked that a larger bench of the National Green Tribunal, Eastern Zone comprising six or more members hear the application related to Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project.

- Jayashree Nandi

The original application, Ashish Kothari Versus The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change & Anr was decided by a bench comprising six members in 2023.

NGT heard the ministry's appeal, filed December 5, the following day, and has directed that the matter be placed before the NGT Chairperson for appropriate orders. It also listed the case on February 7, 2025 before the Eastern bench which will be subject to any orders which may be passed by the Chairperson, it said. The ministry's appeal may be prompted by a desire to expedite the project, currently held up on account of the conditions placed by the 2023 order.

The last order by the six-member bench in this matter came on April 3, 2023 and said there can be no two views about the need for adequate studies of the impact of the mega project on coral reefs, mangroves, turtle nesting sites, bird nesting sites, other wildlife, and erosion, and on aspects related to disaster management and conservation and mitigation measures. The bench constituted a high-powered committee headed by the secretary, union environment ministry to revisit the environmental clearance (EC) granted by the environment ministry to the Great Nicobar township and area development and other infrastructure projects involving an area of 16610 hectares in the ecologically fragile islands.