The Navy’s proposal to set up a missile testing site in Andaman and Nicobar islands has been red-flagged by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), which said it would destroy the habitat of endangered bird species Nicobar Megapode.
Navy said it would “re-approach” the Ministry to review its decision as it needed the firing range at Tillanchong Sanctuary.
“The habitat of the megapode should not be disturbed and the missile firing range should not come up in that area,” Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said at a programme organised to mark the wildlife week here.
She said the reason for her rejection of the proposal was safety of megapode bird, which is an endangered species.
“The megapode (bird) actually does not exist anywhere and it is a very unique species,” Natarajan said.
Natarajan, who is also the Chairman of the National Board of Wildlife, said that the non-official members of the panel had opposed the project.
She said it was a “very very difficult decision” for her to reject the proposal for setting up the temporary facility at the ecologically sensitive island as “it involves security and missile range is important” for the country’s defence.
Tillanchong island in the Nicobars is important for the Nicobarese people and endemic wildlife.
Asked whether the Navy had any alternative site in mind, Joshi said environmental clearances will be required for that site also as it is also in the same Andaman and Nicobar Islands.