Questions on Nicobar Islands

When planning a giant mission in a fragile surroundings just like the Nicobar Islands, we should consider carefully. The Indian authorities needs to construct a naval base on the Nice Nicobar Island, which is close to the essential Malacca Strait. This location may assist India management key transport routes, defend sea routes, and counter China’s actions within the Indian Ocean. It may additionally cease unlawful fishing by Myanmar. However, apart from safety and technique, we should ask if the advantages of this mission are well worth the ecological and social prices, particularly for the reason that mission is in an space that may have earthquakes.

The Setting Ministry says there gained’t be an earthquake or tsunami just like the one in 2004 on this area for 420 to 750 years, however some consultants discover this tough to imagine. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in a really energetic earthquake zone the place massive plates of the Earth meet and create stress. Specialists say it’s unlikely there will probably be no earthquakes for such a very long time. As a substitute of assuming no main earthquakes will occur, scientists suppose it’s higher to arrange for them, simply in case.

The development web site, Galathea Bay, has a fragile ecosystem. Constructing a giant mission right here would trigger a whole lot of harm over 30 years, with actions like blasting, dredging, and drilling. It will change the ecosystem without end, have an effect on the lives of the island’s inhabitants, and burn up the island’s restricted contemporary water. The native tribes, just like the Shompen and Nicobarese, see themselves as guardians of the island’s wealthy biodiversity, together with mangroves, coral reefs, and nesting websites for leatherback turtles, which have been round for the reason that time of the dinosaurs. Even when we put aside issues in regards to the surroundings, constructing a pricey and essential naval base in a disaster-prone space must be reconsidered.

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