NewKerala.com

Key Points

The Indian Navy is exploring artificial islands with higher elevation in the Andamans to safeguard naval infrastructure from rising sea levels. Minister Sanjay Seth revealed plans for land reclamation and mangrove restoration to combat erosion. A dedicated committee monitors climate change impacts on naval operations. New inductions will prioritize resilience against extreme weather conditions.

Key Points: India Plans Artificial Islands for Naval Infra in Andamans Amid Rising Seas

  • Naval METOC tracks cyclones and tsunamis in Andamans
  • Artificial islands proposed to counter sea-level rise
  • Coastal afforestation and mangrove restoration underway
  • Navy’s capability plan includes climate resilience
2 min read

Climate change impact: Artificial island with higher elevation may be built for Naval infra at Andamans

India considers building elevated artificial islands for naval infrastructure in Andamans to counter rising sea levels and climate change threats.

"Alternatives such as land reclamation and creation of artificial islands with higher elevation over the long term, specifically for naval use, are also proposed. – Sanjay Seth, MoS Defence"

New Delhi, July 28

Land reclamation and creation of artificial islands with higher elevation for naval use could be considered to address the vulnerability of the Naval infrastructure at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to challenges linked to the rise in sea level and climate change, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday.

Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, in a written reply, said that as most places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are less than 5 meters above mean sea level, comprehensive data on the frequency of cyclonic storms, impact, and travel times of tsunami waves at various ports have been developed by the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) organisation.

Talking about the vulnerability of naval infrastructure, especially at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the MoS said, “Alternatives such as land reclamation and creation of artificial islands with higher elevation over the long term, specifically for naval use, are also proposed.”

He said that to prevent coastal/beach sand erosion, coastal afforestation drives and restoration of mangroves are also undertaken in naval areas with seashore as a measure.

Seth was responding to a question by Ajeet Gopchade on steps taken or planned to address the impact of global warming and climate change on military personnel and defence systems.

The MoS said the Navy’s Maritime Capability Perspective Plan for the development of force levels is tailored to meet emerging challenges, including climate change.

“A Coordination and Monitoring Committee on Climate Change meets periodically to discuss, monitor, and oversee issues related to climate change and global warming in the Indian Navy’s (IN) context. The implications of Global Mean Sea Level Rise on the Indian Ocean Region nations and IN’s operational domain form the primary focus of discussion,” he said.

Seth also said that during the mission planning stage, a detailed analysis of weather conditions likely to be encountered is undertaken to deduce their effect on ships, aircraft, submarines, and personnel exposed to the weather conditions.

He added that the planned induction of platforms also takes into account the necessity for the platforms and their weapons, sensors, equipment, and systems to perform at the desired operational efficiency during adverse weather conditions.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I understand the security needs, I'm concerned about the ecological impact. Andamans have such unique biodiversity. The mangrove restoration is good, but artificial islands could disrupt marine life. There must be balance between defense and environment.
A
Arjun K
Finally some forward thinking on climate change impacts! China has been building artificial islands in South China Sea for years. We need to secure our territory too, especially with increasing Chinese naval activity in Indian Ocean region.
S
Sarah B
The Coordination Committee on Climate Change is a welcome step. But is there enough budget allocation for these projects? Defense modernization is important, but climate adaptation needs more funds. Hope this isn't just another committee without real action.
V
Vikram M
Good to see Indian Navy planning for climate change. But what about local communities in Andamans? Their livelihoods depend on the sea. Hope the government will consult with fishermen and tourism operators before making big changes to the coastline.
N
Nisha Z
The mangrove restoration is excellent! Nature-based solutions should be prioritized over concrete structures where possible. Our traditional knowledge has solutions for coastal protection - hope they're consulting local environmental experts too 🌿
D
David E
Interesting to see India taking climate threats to military infrastructure seriously. The US Navy has similar concerns about bases like Diego Garcia

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50