A Great Nicobar Conservation Timeline - Updated and Revised, May 2024

[Pankaj Sekhsaria]

Apologies for cross posting
Dear Friends,

In a set of developments that have unfolded with unprecedented speed and
uncharacteristic co-ordination over the last three years, there has been
as we know, a push for a mega development plan for Great Nicobar Island.
Piloted by the NITI Aayog, it has 4 components: a transshipment port, an
international airport, a power plant, and a greenfield township spanning
over 130 sq km of pristine forest. Expected to cost a whopping Rs.
72,000c rore, the project entails the cutting down of nearly a million
trees, besides multiple threats to the ecology and indigenous peoples here.

After many months of carefully mapping out the developments, we had put
out a comprehensive date-wise account of the details of the
project in October 2023.

This has now been updated and we are happy to present the updated and
revised timeline dated May 2024, with nearly 200 dates. Pls see the
attached file for the same. Embedded in the timeline are links that
provide full access to almost 200 documents - project reports,
scientific papers, meeting agendas and minutes, call for proposals,
citizen responses etc, - that are relevant to understand what's
happening in Great Nicobar.

This timeline has been prepared and now updated in response to a wide
interest in the project in multiple sections of people (researchers,
journalists, students, academics)and constant requests for details and
the relevant documents. The information is now all available in this
single document and has also been categorised into broad themes to help
negotiated through the developments over the last three years. Hopefully
this will be a useful and
relevant resource.

The pdf of the timeline can also be accessed from the following links:

https://tinyurl.com/2hxc2hfv
and

https://www.academia.edu/120904518/GNI_Timeline_May_2024_Revised_and_updated

Pls do share this timeline with other groups and individuals who might
find it useful and relevant.

Many thanks
Pankaj Sekhsaria on behalf of the Timeline Team
---

We now also have a book on the project titled 'The Great Nicobar
Betrayal'. Published by Frontline is a collection of articles written by
experts of various dimensions - ecological, geological, legal and tribal
rights - that are central to the concerns about the project.

For more information on the book and/or to order copies you can write to
psekh...@gmail.com