UN body asks India to respond on concerns around mega projects in the Andamans

Published : Jul 22, 2022 19:18 IST The Central government is going ahead with two mega development projects in the eco-sensitive Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which environmentalists say pose a grave threat to the ecology of the islands and also endanger the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups inhabiting these islands. The two mega development projects, to be completed by 2050, are called the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island, and the Sustainable Development of Little Andaman Island Vision Document. The projects will directly affect five tribal groups notified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, namely the Great Andamanese, the Jarawas, the Onges, the Shompens, and the Sentinalese. The letter reminds the government that these projects violate existing laws and policies of the government such as the Shompen Policy of 2015, which establishes the prioritisation of tribal rights over large-scale developmental projects; the Forest Conservation Act of 1980; the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation of 1956; and the Indian Forest Act of 1927.