The central government's Great Nicobar development project, proposed around an unprecedented transhipment port, will be executed to keep environmental impact minimal, and is essential as it is of national importance, the government has said amid calls to abort the controversial project due to ecological concerns, the Centre said in an official statement.
Mangroves absorb excess water but they are being destroyed in Mumbai in the guise of infrastructure development, city-based environmentalist Debi Goenka told PTI.
'The prime minister can think of bullet trains and speed, but cannot think of special measures to save these magnificent creatures.'
Since the disastrous 2005 floods, that crippled Mumbai, little work has been done on disaster management and relief preparations.