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Megacity plan for Little Andaman
Why is it in news?
- NITI Aayog’s has proposed to leverage the strategic location and natural features of the Little Andaman island.
- A plan for the sustainable and holistic development of the 680 sq km, fragile Little Andaman Island has raised the alarm among conservationists.
Details:
- The development project will be done by building a new greenfield coastal city, that will be developed as a free trade zone and will compete with Singapore and Hong Kong.
- An international airport capable of handling all types of aircraft will be central to this development vision.
The proposal is pivoted along three development anchors and zones:
- Zone 1: It is spread over 102 sq km along the east coast of Little Andaman- will be the financial district and medi city and will include an aerocity, and a tourism and hospital district.
- Zone 2: It is Spread over 85 sq km of pristine forest. The leisure zone, will have a film city, a residential district and a tourism SEZ.
- Zone 3: It will be on 52 sq km of pristine forest. It will be a nature zone, further categorised into three districts: an exclusive forest resort, a nature healing district and a nature retreat, all on the western coast.
Forest Dept.’s concerns:
- The Divisional Forest Officer, Little Andaman, raised serious concerns about this vision on grounds of ecological fragility, indigenous rights and vulnerability to earthquakes.
- The diversion of forest land would cause obvious environmental loss leading to irreversible damage.