The environment management plan for wildlife, compensatory afforestation, tribal welfare , and conservation and mitigation measures during construction and operation of the entire Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project will cost around Rs 91 billion according to minutes of the meeting of monitoring committee, held in November last year, and available on ANIIDCO (Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited) website. 

The ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) informed the Rajya Sabha last year that the cost of the Great Nicobar infrastructure project is Rs 818.34.22 billion. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned Rs 886.9 billion towards the first year’s expenditure for wildlife conservation plans, which is expected to be released shortly, minutes of the meeting held on November 21 state. Anthony Johnson, scientist at the state-run Wildlife Institute of India (WII) said,according to the minutes,thatthe institute has submitted a research proposal on a conservation plan for three important species, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Nicobar Megapode, and Saltwater Crocodile and that a detailed conservation plan will be prepared only after a detailed study for two years. Similar submissions have been made by the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History and Indian Institute of Forest Management. Accordingly, WII has requested for expediting release of funds for carrying out field studies. 

The minutes of the meetings of the monitoring committee to oversee the implementation of the environment management plan for the project have been published on the ANIIDCO website recently. These finally provide information on how various institutions involved in the project plan to manage its environmental impact, independent environmentalists who are tracking the project said.