New Delhi, May 26 (HS): The Congress Party’s Tribal Department President Vikrant Bhuria on Tuesday raised concerns over the Great Nicobar Project, stating that large-scale deforestation under the project would impact both tribal communities and the environment. He warned that if forests are destroyed, tribal culture and identity would also come under threat.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters, Bhuria said that while the government honours those who plant trees, on the other hand, forests are being cleared on a massive scale. He stressed that protecting forests and land is essential for preserving tribal culture.

He alleged that the Great Nicobar Project involves the large-scale cutting of trees in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Referring to the Shompen tribe, he said that this indigenous community survives in very small numbers and could also be adversely affected by the project.

Bhuria noted that Great Nicobar has been declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, yet plans are underway for extensive construction and settlement in the region. He further claimed that there are plans to settle a population far exceeding the existing number of residents.

He said the region is also seismically sensitive, making large-scale construction activities a matter of concern. The Andaman and Nicobar region is also considered important for ecological balance and the monsoon system.

Bhuria added that tribal communities are not merely a term but an integral part of India’s history and identity. He alleged that in several states, tribal populations are being deprived of water, forests, and land, and that the implementation of the PESA Act and the Forest Rights Act is not being carried out properly.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar