Agatti Island

Recently, the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted an interim stay on felling of coconut trees on Agatti Island in Lakshadweep.

About Union Territory’s (UT) Integrated Island Management Plan

• It was formulated on the basis of a report submitted by the Supreme Court-appointed Expert Committee, headed by Justice R.V. Raveendran, a former judge of the SC.
• IIMP includes holistic island development plans prepared by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) for implementation by coastal States/ UTs.
• The IIMP undertakes scientific approaches, coupled with indigenous knowledge for the better management of the islands and its resources.

Agatti Island

• It is at a distance of 459 km (248 nautical miles) from Kochi (Kerala) and is located to the west of Kavaratti Island.
• Kavaratti is the capital of the UT of Lakshadweep.
• It has an area of 3.84 sq km and has a north-east, south-west trend with a long tail on the south.
• The lagoon area of this island is 17.50 sq km and there is plenty of coral growth and multicoloured coral fishes in the lagoons.
• Fishing is the most important industry of Agatti which is perhaps the only island besides Minicoy getting surplus fish.
• Next to fishing, coir (coconut fibre) and copra (dried meat or kernel of the coconut) are the main industries.

About National Green Tribunal

• It was established in 2010, as per the National Green Tribunal Act.
• It is a specialised judicial body equipped with expertise solely for the purpose of adjudicating environmental cases in the country.
• It was set up as per recommendations of the Supreme Court, Law Commission and India’s international law obligations to develop national laws on environment and implement them effectively.
• It is tasked to provide effective and expeditious remedy in cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources and enforcement of any legal right related to the environment.
• It has a presence in five zones- North, Central, East, South and West.
• Its Principal Bench is situated in the North Zone and headquartered in Delhi.
• Its orders are enforceable as the powers vested are the same as in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

UPSC