Companies have been invited to bid for a 5 MW solar power project with battery energy storage system capacity of up to 4 MW/12 MWh to come up in Great Nicobar island.
NTPC Green Energy Limited, a subsidiary of NTPC Limited intends to set-up solar power infrastructure in the island as part of the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island, documents seen by HT show.
The expression of interest was invited on March 11 and the last date for seeking queries etc. following submission is March 30. While NTPC officials say the land for the projects is yet to be allocated, and that the “location isn’t known” , a letter written by some anthropologists in 2022 warned, without giving specifics that the solar plant(s) was among those components of the larger infrastructure project that are close to settlements of some Shompen bands .
In a letter to the environment ministry that has been reviewed by HT, the anthropologists said: “The project includes the construction of 1) International Container Transhipment Terminal and associated bunkering facilities, 2) LNG and solar plant, 3) Greenfield International Airport and 4) Major tourism facilities and townships throughout the southern and southeast portions of the island. Several dwellings and foraging grounds of the southern group of Shompens (Kokeon, Re-pakou and Buij-yae as per Shompen Policy, 2015) are close (within 1-2 km) to the sites.”
The letter signed off by anthropologists including from Indian Anthropological Association enclosed a map from the environmental clearance documents where they pointed out that certain settlements are close to where the power plant is expected to be sited. These areas include Buij-yae and Kokeon.
{{/usCountry}}The letter signed off by anthropologists including from Indian Anthropological Association enclosed a map from the environmental clearance documents where they pointed out that certain settlements are close to where the power plant is expected to be sited. These areas include Buij-yae and Kokeon.
{{/usCountry}}The Nicobar Islands fall in the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot and cover the western half of the Indonesian archipelago — a group of some 17,000 islands stretching 5,000 kilometers — that is dominated by the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Concerns have also been raised about the impact of such a mega infrastructure project on the Shompen, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, and the Nicobarese.
HT reported on March 8 that two of the three gram (village) panchayats in the area earmarked for the ambitious project in the Great Nicobar Island have consented to notification of ‘Great Nicobar Island Development Area’, but highlighted that amenities and utilities being built should benefit locals and that fair compensation should be provided. The Tribal Council of Little Nicobar and Great Nicobar has, however. objected to the diversion of certain areas currently reserved for tribals.
On April 12, the Tribal Affairs Ministry said in Parliament that it is not aware of any objections to the Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project raised by the Tribal Council of Little and Great Nicobar. The disclosure was made by tribal affairs minister, Jual Oram who said in response to a question that the ministry “has not got any information on any kind of objection from the public.”