Clearance sought for protecting and developing India Point Lighthouse on Great Nicobar Island

New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) To protect and develop the Indira Point Lighthouse on Great Nicobar Island, the Directorate of Lighthouses and Lightships at Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) has sought coastal regulation zone clearance for strengthening the lighthouse, constructing a museum, and a convention centre, among others. The entire project falls under the ecologically sensitive Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ)-1A and ICRZ-IV. Notably, the Great Nicobar Island is the same spot where the Centre aims to build a project spread over 166 sq km, comprising the construction of a transhipment port, an integrated township, a civil and military airport, and a 450-MVA gas and solar power-based plant As ICRZ-1A areas are most ecologically sensitive, no activities are permitted except for certain exceptions, such as eco-tourism, and construction of roads and roads on stilts only in exceptional cases for defence, strategic purposes, and public utilities. In the case of ICRZ-IV, several activities are allowed, including traditional fishing, land reclamation, and bunding. “The proposed project activity is being implemented with the objective to protect the lighthouse structure… [It] also includes improvement of accessibility, visitor infrastructure, coastal protection measures, landscaping, utilities, and associated support facilities,” said the project’s environment impact assessment (EIA) report, prepared by PSU WAPCOS Limited. The EIA report also said that construction activities and the movement of machinery may cause temporary disturbance to nearby coastal vegetation, marine habitats, and wildlife. The work will be carried out in two phases. The first phase involves the construction of a peripheral piled platform around the lighthouse, a piled approach structure, a rock bund, an asphalt road, and a temporary jetty. The second phase consists of reclamation work, construction of onshore facilities, slope protection, and eco-tourism facilities such as a convention centre, cafeteria, viewing tower, cycling track, museum building and a memorial or monument structure. PTI ALC . KSI KSI