Parliament Question: Clearances to projects in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 65 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026 Clearances to projects in Andaman and Nicobar Islands 65. DR. V. SIVADASAN: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) the number of environmental, forest and CRZ clearances granted for projects in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the last five years, project-wise and year-wise; (b) the details thereof including the name of project, project proponent, extent of land diverted (in hectares), forest area involved, number of trees proposed to be cut down and clearance conditions imposed; and (c) whether any comprehensive, independent assessment has been carried out to evaluate the cumulative ecological damage caused by these projects to forests, mangroves, coral reefs, wildlife habitats and livelihood of indigenous and local communities and if so, the findings thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (c) The Government of India has issued Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 under the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. As per the provisions laid down in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended, the proposals seeking Environmental Clearance (EC) are appraised by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) or State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) considering all the environmental implications involved in the project including the issues raised in Public Consultation. Based on the recommendation of the EAC/SEAC, projects are further considered by the Ministry or State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for approval for grant of Environment Clearance. Proposals pertaining to Forest Clearance (FC) and diversion of forest land are submitted by the States/UTs for prior approval of Central government under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam 1980. Further, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance is granted by the Ministry in accordance with the provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011/2019, as amended, after due appraisal of the proposed project by the State Coastal Zonal Management Authority (SCZMA). As per information available on the PARIVESH portal, during the last five years including the current financial year, the Ministry has granted Environmental Clearance (EC) to 7 proposals, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance to 6 proposals and EC and CRZ clearance to 1 proposal in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The details of clearances granted are providedin Annexure-I. Further, out of the proposals for which Environmental Clearance has been granted, 35 proposals involving 104.79 ha of forest land have been granted final approval under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. The details of aforesaid proposals are available in public domain on PARIVESH portal (www.parivesh.nic.in), which also reflects the present status of such proposals. As per the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006 and the CRZ Notification, 2011/2019, Environmental and CRZ Clearances are granted only after a comprehensive appraisal of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report and the corresponding Environmental Management Plan (EMP) prepared for each individual project. The Environmental/ CRZ Clearance is accorded subject to specific safeguards relating to statutory compliances; monitoring and preservation of air, water and noise quality; energy conservation measures; waste management; development and maintenance of green belts; protection of marine ecology; transport management; safeguards for human health and environment; protection of livelihoods of indigenous and local communities; and risk mitigation and disaster management. For Forest Clearances, in accordance with the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 and the rules framed thereunder, proposals received from the State Governments are comprehensively examined by the Advisory Committee, constituted under section 3 of the Adhiniyam. This examination includes due diligence on the assessment of both direct and indirect impacts of forest land diversion on forests, wildlife, and the environment. Considering the impact of the project on flora and fauna, additional mitigation measures in the form of Soil and Moisture Conservation works, Wildlife Management plan, Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) Plan etc. are also stipulated on case-to-case basis, wherever necessary. In addition, the compliance under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) is also ensured by the States/UTs prior to handing over forest land to the user agency. *********Annexure-I Table:1 Number of Environment Clearances granted by the Ministry in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the last five years including the current financial year Type of Grand 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Projects Total Thermal Power 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Projects Infrastructur 0 1 1 3 1 0 6 e projects Grand Total 7 Table:2 Number of CRZ Clearances granted by the Ministry in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the last five years including the current financial year Type of 2020- 2021- 2022- 2024- 2025- Grand 2023-24 Projects 21 22 23 25 26 Total Passenger Sea Port Terminal 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 (SPT) Seawall/shore 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 protection work Public Works 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Department Tourism 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Infrastructure Lighthouse tower and allied 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 facilities Seaport Terminal 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 construction Grand Total 6 Table 3: Number of EC and CRZ Clearances granted by the Ministry in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the last five years including the current financial year Type of 2020- 2021- 2022- 2024- 2025- Grand 2023-24 Projects 21 22 23 25 26 Total Integrated Infrastructure 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Development Project Grand Total 6