Join Vidhi for its seventeenth Book Adda on ‘The Great Nicobar Betrayal’. The discussants will be Dr Pankaj Sekhsaria, author of the book with Debadityo Sinha, Lead- Climate & Ecosystems at Vidhi. This will be a hybrid event held at the Office Basement, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, New Delhi. If you cannot join us in person, please join us online via Zoom. The discussion will begin at 05:30 PM IST on 27th June 2024 (Thursday).
High Tea will be served at 05:00 PM IST.
About the Book
Set against the backdrop of Great Nicobar Island, the largest and southernmost landmass in the Nicobar chain, is a significant development project valued at Rs. 72,000 crore. While this project promises substantial development, it also poses risks to the island’s fragile rainforest ecosystem and indigenous communities. In ‘The Great Nicobar Betrayal,’ Pankaj Sekhsaria, a noted chronicler of contemporary issues in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, curates a collection of articles by experts from various publications.
These insightful pieces examine the proposed project from multiple perspectives— environmental, geological, societal impact, legalities, due process, and ecological implications. Together, they present a comprehensive view of the potential challenges facing this pristine island if the project proceeds. This book serves as both a cautionary tale and a documentation of the possible man-made catastrophe, which could surpass the devastation caused by the December 2004 tsunami.
About the Author
Dr. Pankaj Sekhsaria is an academic, researcher, photographer, and member of the environmental action group Kalpavriksh. He is also a professor at the Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas (CTARA), IIT Bombay. He has dedicated his work to addressing issues in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and has authored five books on the subject. Additionally, he serves as the editor of the bi-monthly newsletter ‘Protected Area Update.’ A revised edition of his book ‘Islands in Flux – The Andaman and Nicobar Story’ was recently published by Harper Collins India.
Register here.