Port Blair, July 01: A plan to build a radar installation on Narcondum Island has created a wave in international level. A few groups now claim that such installation will put the world’s only population of some 300 Narcondam Hornbills (Aceros narcondami) at risk.
According to reports, defence forces have planned a radar facility and diesel power generation station on Narcondum, a three-kilometer-by-four-kilometer island in the Andaman and Nicobar Island group.
The plan includes a clearing forest for a new road and increased human presence on the island. According to the conservation group, the project has “high potential for chronic and increased disturbance to this lushly forested island and its small hornbill population.”
“The existing police outpost has itself caused some loss of habitat,” stated Conservation India on its web site. “It is dependent on the single freshwater source available on the island, and any additional human presence and installations will only compound the problems for the island and its unique flora and fauna.
On security point of view a Radar Station at Narcondum Island will play a major role in ensuring security of these strategically located Islands and also entire Nation. Now international pressure is mounting on India to drop this plan, several websites are openly writing against this radar installation plans.
Many believe that before taking any decision to drop the idea the India Government must also investigate the intension behind raising such objections. Is it because some of our neighboring countries are getting uncomfortable with India’s Radar Installation Plan in remote Islands?
The last para does give a sense of that ever fearful ‘Foreign hand’ theory. If the issue is seen for what its worth, its about the only population of hornbills that are restricted and endemic to Narcondam island, and which is a species of Global concern and interest. India’s defence interests need not be compromised, as there are various means as well as other regions without the degree of sensitivity that Narcondam Island presents, that may be used to further these interests. China and Burma games will continue to be played despite such developments; it is in our National as well as Island interest, that the hornbill be given a better deal than having to deal with more people, more equipment and the fallouts of these and other ‘developments’.
The Hornbills of that island do not stand much of a chance given the predicaments of that proposal. Rather than getting waylaid by the foreign hand theory, it would be wise to understand what is at stake. For information, there are probably more Indian conservation groups than foreign ones who have expressed concern on this proposal understanding the ramifications it has for one of India’s endemic species.