नरकंडम द्वीप अभयारण्य में तटीय निगरानी रडार और पावर सप्लाई स्रोत की स्थापना के लिए अनुमति - संबंधी

F. No. 6-73!2011.\X/L Government of India Ministry of Environment and Forests (WiJdl.Jfe Division) Paryavaran Bhawan, eGO Complex, Lodhl Road,New DeUu 110003 Dated 31.08.2012 OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Permission for installation of Coastal surveillance RADAR and power supply

source at Narcondamlsland Sanctuary - reg. A proposal was rccelvcd ill the Mllustry of Envuonment and Forests for conSlderatlon of the Stancllng Comnuttce of Naaonal Board for WlldlLfe (NBWL) from Inman Coast Guard, Headquarters Region (A&N), seelung diversion of 0.637 ha of forest land for mstallatton of coastal swvwlance RADAR and power supply source on Narcondam Island wltbm the Narcondam Island Sanctuary 10 Andaman and Nlcobar Islands. The proposal was duly recommended by the A ndaman and Nlcobar Island AdnuOlstraoon along With the concuuence of the SBWL. 2. The Island IS on the easternmost location, havmg only 6.82 km2 of geograplucal area With an altitude from sea level to about 700 msl. It harbours trOpICal mixed forests and warun these forests, a ony populaaon (about 350) of Narcondam Hornbill, an endctnlc species on tlus Island. The bu:d represents umque endenuclty, and is In globally endangered category of IUCN, and U1 Schedule I o f the Wild Life (protection) Act 1972 also. The area earmarked for the proposed Illstallation of eqUIpment, and the area covered by the proposed road leading to IOstaUaaon site from the shore IS the one wluch IS inhabited and &equendy used by these bltds. The proposal of Coast G uard IS a pan o f the cham of static RADAR sensors all along the I nilian coast for remote llloOltonng of activities in coastal sea. Narcondam Island IS dle site for one of several such UOltS planned along the entu·e coast. 3. The proposal was considered 10 the 23";1 Meeung of the Standmg Commitree of NBWL held on 14th October 2011, whercm a site inspection was prescribed, and dle same was entrusted to Dr A Rahmal11, Member, along With a representatlve of the Cillef WLldltfe Warden, A&N Islands, for subnuttmg a report t.o the Committee after site mspection. SIte l1lspectlon was carned oul and the report subrrutted by Dr Rahmaru proposed that the proposal should not be recommended due to the uruque starus of th.is habitat, bemg the only abode of dle lughly

endemic speclcs of Narcondam Hombill. The report was considered In the 25'h Meeting of the StancLng Committee held on 13 th June 2012. 4. Subsequently, several representations were received In the Mimstry related to the conservatlOll value of tlle Island and the unique Narcondam Hornbill also. It is understood that the majority of the nests of the small population of thIS speCIes (less than 350 buds) are located_at about 200 meter hetght, wruch IS generally the same area in the Island, wluch is to be used by the project for mstallauon of RADAR. For the duration of egg-bymg and duck-reanng, tlle females shed the flight feathers and atc incapable of fught. fn the cucumstances, even If the area to be . used fot the project IS less than 0.7 hectares, disturbances and damage caused to the habitat due to ClltUOg of road through the area, and because of the regular functlorung of RADAR system, IS likely to cause IIreversible advt;rse unpact on thiS ul1Ique bird, and can even wipe out the whole populauon of tills bud, willch IS less than 350. 5. As far as the project of coastal surveillance RADAR of the Coast Guard IS concerned, an alternatlve analysIs 111 terms of choice of technology and other opoons for locatUlg the surveillance system have not been elaborated in the proposal. iv1..mIStry IS of the view that the other opuons for the purpose, lIke IIlstallauon of off-shore stmctures and several other viable opuons ate available, which can spare tlle ul11que habitat of Narcondam lsland from disturbance. Howcvcr, there IS no such option available for the Hornbill whose survtval may get setJously threatened If tlle establishment of proposed R.A DAR IS allowed on tlle Narcondam Island. 6. In view of the aforesaid, the proposal for diversion of 0.637 ha of forest land fO[ lllstallauon of Coastal Surveillance RADAR and power supply source at Narcondam Island SanctualY can not be reconllnended. The proponents afe adVised to consU(ute a commlltce of experts to study and explore ot.her aJternauves lIke aenal, s:1tellite, off shore, ship-based or land- based surveillance systems at other islands, for ensunng the clcft'Tlce and economic secutlty of the country. The experts m:1y reprcsel1l the disciphnes of:- (1) Secunty and sea water surveillance (pOSSibly DRDO) (ll) Islands and marllle ecology (ill) Manne structural engmcenng (iv) Coasl Guards •

.,. This Issues WIth the approval of the 1\hnlstcr of State (Independent Charge) EnVLfonmcnt and Forests, and the Chairperson of the Standmg Committee for NB\VL. L,,~ ~'0\L (VQ~ Saxena) Deputy Inspector General of Forests (\VL) 1. ChlefSecrerary,Andaman and Nicobar 1 ~ l a nd s, Port Blalr 2. Pnnclpal Secretary Fo rests and PCCF, Andaman and NlCobar Islands, Port Blall· 3, Prmclpal Secretary (\X1L) and Chief WLldlife Warden, Andaman and Nlcobar Islands, POrt Blalt ~: Technlc,1 D~ecto" (N IC) fa< uplo,dmg the O.M. on the MUll"')," webs"e. I

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