Estimated to value ₹72,000 crore, the event venture will see the felling of practically 8.5 lakh timber
Estimated to value ₹72,000 crore, the event venture will see the felling of practically 8.5 lakh timber
Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam on Friday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revoke the clearance supplied for the diversion of practically 130.75 sq.km of forest space within the Great Nicobar island for a growth venture.
In a letter to Mr. Modi, the Communist Party of India MP stated: “The government’s justification of compensatory afforestation is ill-advised as the ecological wealth destroyed… cannot be created elsewhere”.
The Union Environment Ministry has in precept granted its permission for the diversion of practically 130.75 sq km forest space within the Great Nicobar island for a growth venture, the place a trans-shipment port, an airport, an influence plant and a greenfield township will come up. Estimated to value ₹72,000 crore, the venture by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) will see the felling of practically 8.5 lakh timber.
Mr. Viswam stated the Great Nicobar Island was one of many best-preserved tropical forests on the earth with 650 species of flora and 330 species of fauna, together with endemic species. The venture would injury the ecological stability of the area and the way forward for these natural world could be in jeopardy, the MP stated.
“The time has come for the government to stop this practice of treating the environment as a commodity under its ownership and to understand that we are merely its ‘possessors’,” the letter stated.
The Member of Parliament stated that the federal government’s obsession for the “easing of doing business” in such a fashion would have an effect on the ‘Right to Life’ assured by Article 21 of the Constitution. “It is our duty to preserve the environment for future generations”.
He additionally drew consideration to the BJP manifesto for General Election 2014 promising to “set up foolproof mechanisms for protection and preservation of wildlife” and “nurture the environment, institutions, people”.
“In light of above, I strongly urge you to ensure that the clearance provided is revoked at the earliest in the interest of our environment,” the letter to the Prime Minister stated.
Source: www.thehindu.com
