The Environment Ministry is going ahead with grant of approval to the proposed Defence radar project in the Andamans despite vehement opposition by wildlife scientists and conservationists on the grounds that it will cause irreparable damage to the highly-endangered Narcondam Hornbill.
There are only about 300 of these endangered birds left and the species is endemic to India. Scientists say finding an alternative home for the bird may be nearly impossible. The Director of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Asad Rahmani has already written to the Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar advising him on the significance of the species.
The UPA Government had shelved the project in 2012 following a report filed by Rahmani contending that such a project would be detrimental to the species.However, with the new Environment Minister reopening the file, on the grounds that it is a crucial national security project, apprehensions of the environmentalists have grown.
In a recent Press meet Javadekar referred to Coco Islands in the vicinity of Andamans and said that China already has a presence in the region. “China is sitting in front and doing something and we cannot even monitor that! The country cannot run like that. So these kinds of projects, which are of importance to the country’s security, will be cleared on priority basis,” the Minister had said.
The standing committee of the National Board For Wildlife (NBWl) had rejected such a proposal earlier. The rejection came on the basis of a report filed by Rahmani who pointed out that hundreds of trees would be uprooted to make space for the radar and an approach road along with a helipad. “While surveillance projects cannot be compromised, but such large project on this tiny Narcondam Island may spell disaster for the already dwindling population of the highly-endangered Narcondam Hornbills”, said Rahmani in his report.
A former member of the NBWl said since it was a project within a Protected Area, giving permission to it should be decided by the NBWl and not unilaterally by the Minister. The Ministry is, however, yet to constitute the NBWl, whose term got over on September 6, 2013.
Rahmani said the total area of the island is less than 7 sq km. Hence, if any further development occurs, it will take away the space of this bird. They are endemic to this island and have been living here for millions of years. “The radar can be built elsewhere but where will the Hornbills goIJ,” Rahmani asked.
The environmentalists have often recommended that this rare and highly endangered species must be left with minimum disturbance. At present, there is a small police post of 15-17 policemen on duty on the island. They have very little ecological impact, but with the proposed Radar project and the accompanying constructions, disturbances will increase manifold.