Creeks Blocked, Forest Cleared for Construction of Road to Transport Logs from Shipwreck 

Diglipur, March 20: It has been learnt through reliable sources that a private party in connivance with the Andaman & Nicobar Forest and Plantation Development Corporation (ANIFPDCL) has been openly violating the Forest Conservation Act 1980 which clearly states that the forest cannot be de-reserved or used for non-forest purpose.

It is learnt that the private party was awarded a tender for salvage operation from a ship wreck that took place near Ticket Island at Elizabeth Bay near Diglipur. It was in the year 2005 when a cargo vessel MV Edna Maria on its voyage from Myanmar to Tuticorian, carrying 993 Cbm of Burmese Rose Wood got wrecked near Ticket Island. It was later in the year 2011 that the A&N Administration had decided to call a tender through the ANIFPDCL to clear the cargo in the wrecked ship. The tender was later awarded to M/s Priya Enterprises, Port Blair at a cost of Rs. 61,60,165/- .

Sources further inform that to clear the salvage, the private party has cut a 6.5 Kms approach road from Hathi Level to Bandhan Nallah 2 by clearing down the naturally grown forest trees, without seeking any permission from the concerned Ministry of Environment & Forest. It is not only this; the party in connivance with the Forest Corporation has blocked a creek inside the reserve forest by dumping stone bolders and earth to connect the road being constructed. The road is now being used to carry excavators and other machineries needed for the salvage operation.

No permission has been sought from the concerned Ministry and no biomass assessment has been undertaken by the forest department to have an account of the number of trees being destroyed inside the forest reserve. Moreover blocking a creek having wildlife in it is a clear violation of the rule.

It is again surprising to note that the Forest Authorities have strictly banned any locals from entering into this area and also warned them against photography in the area.