Centre puts bombs before birds – UPA missile testing policy for Andamans reversed

[indiatester]

Just like these guys?
IS threat to Syria's northern bald ibis near Palmyra - BBC News

IS threat to Syria's northern bald ibis near Palmyra
A rare bird may become extinct in Syria because of the capture of Palmyra by Islamic State, experts say.

A tiny breeding colony of the northern bald ibis - a critically endangered species - was found near the city in 2002.

Only one female returned from the wintering grounds in spring 2013.

Three further birds held in captivity were abandoned last week after their Bedouin guards fled the fighting. Their fate is unknown.

These creatures have very delicate senses of direction and breeding patterns. Any changes in environment impacts them severely, be it missile testing or Islamic radicals fighting away.

Unlike monuments which can be rebuilt or replaced, these birds cannot be replaced if they go extinct.

I don't like to be so pessimistic. I'd like to believe that the services know what they are doing.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

If we dont test our weapons ; our Naval officers and sailors will die in battle

LET the BIRDS DIE instead

 

[Guynextdoor2]

This has been a request from the Armed Forces in A&N a while back. It was denied by the then government.
I'd like to give the benefit of doubt to the services that they have put forth that request after due diligence.

Environmentalists must obviously keep an eye out to ensure that precious wildlife is not damaged by these activities.

The job of the armed force is to request what is best from the security POV. Their job is not to take environment and other factors into consideration. The job of the government is to take all factors including those from environment ministry and take a decision that is in the best interest of the nation. I'm not commenting on this decision. All I'm saying is that if the previous govts did not give a permission for this, that too is valid. These things are a part of everyday governance. And yes. India HAS to put up environment as an important consideration. Already country's environmental scene is a mess.

 

[Viny]

What will happen at the worst

The birds will get EXTINCT ; so be it

But Animals are smart they adapt and migrate

Why not test it inside your house, what will happen at the worst, your family will get EXTINCT so be it, But neighbouring human race is smart they will adapt and migrate.

Lets not be silly that security is prime important. In order to secure your controlled land, you are willing to destroy the land for which you are doing all this. So when you will not have a balanced ecology what will you do with barren lands?

Unlike many other nations, we dont have ample green land, we are already over populated and we cannot waste even single inch of land, given the way we are growing. Thus it becomes more important for us the ensure we safeguard what we have as of now, so that our future can be secured.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

Why not test it inside your house, what will happen at the worst, your family will get EXTINCT so be it, But neighbouring human race is smart they will adapt and migrate.

Lets not be silly that security is prime important. In order to secure your controlled land, you are willing to destroy the land for which you are doing all this. So when you will not have a balanced ecology what will you do with barren lands?

Unlike many other nations, we dont have ample green land, we are already over populated and we cannot waste even single inch of land, given the way we are growing. Thus it becomes more important for us the ensure we safeguard what we have as of now, so that our future can be secured.

There is no place on the Indian coast where the Navy can test its weaponry

IAF and Army already have their own test ranges

Now Andaman is the only one place where the Navy can fire its weapons FROM the ships
as they would do during real combat situation

SO Hell with the birds

We are just a densely populated country ; there will always be people
around

It is hard to find unpopulated areas

And fortunately we have a few left in the Andamans

So lets us use them for our security rather than obsess about birds

 

[dray]

Who cares about natural species that may never return again.. lets fire them bombs and guns.

Been there , seen the habitat of that region, I seriously feel pain and would not support this. There are many barren lands try those for your practice tests or make artificial practice mounts floating on sea and do the tests. Why do they want to damage the fragile environment of those pristine islands. I dont mind testing some of these missiles on houses of dumb *** politicians houses too.

On one hand govt doesnt allow locals and tourists to visit these islands saying that it will affect the ecology and on other hand they use it as there testing grounds is outright rubbish.

Send those people who signed the document to those islands, let there eyes see what exists there and can they find same somewhere else on the planet to replicate it.

West with billions of dollars have not been able to restore back anything that they have damaged, its hard time we learn it and protect what we have for the future generations.

I cannot in good conscience support this stupidity. Loss of a species is permanent. There is no coming back.

Let's not get crude and stupid here. Protecting the environment and culture is just as important. My question is, have we explored all options?

'National Security' is the oldest trump card any government plays to any gallery. We've had multiple bases and testing facilities where viable. Andaman really is a very sensitive area. There are parts of those islands that outsiders are not allowed to visit because the indigenous people need to be protected from their influence. These are responsibilities that any effective government has to cater to. And peotecting the environment is not something that can be given up the way BJP has done on several occasions recently (including cutting spends on Project Tiger). Whenever they dangle 'security' you should ask whether there is reasonable oversight behind what they are doing and if no other option was available.

Dear friend, I dont know how much you know about Andaman and Nicobar.
Just sharing few facts with you

1. There are around 350+ islands out of which only 30-32 are habbited, out of then most people can at max visit 7-9 islands rest are occupied by tribals where common public is not allowed, and for rest the permission is not granted. This is because both govt and world has recognized that zone to have some of the worlds most diverse flora and fauna, marine life and tribes like Jarava's.

2. So far, about 2,200 varieties of plants have been recorded, out of which 200 are endemic and 1,300 do not occur in mainland India. So if any one of them are lost its lost for ever.

3.
The territory is home to about 225 species of butterflies and moths, including some of the larger and most spectacular of the world. Ten species are endemic to these Islands. Mount Harriet National Park is one of the richest areas of butterfly and moth diversity on these Islands. Give a visit to Butterfly museum in Port Blair, one step inside and you will be taken to some other world.


4. India has very very rare places which are not touched much by human interventions, thus the many of these islands have very presitine natural enviornment. If we can safe guard them our future generation would be able to cheerish nature.


Now bombing any of those areas will create not only damage due to blasts, but also the sound pollution will scare of the habitats.

Frankly speaking, though andaman islands are lonely place with least human interaction, they are also the worst place to think of testing, because its natural adobe of those dont need humans in there life.

Tests like should be done on barren lands where there is no flora or fauna to get damaged.

The job of the armed force is to request what is best from the security POV. Their job is not to take environment and other factors into consideration. The job of the government is to take all factors including those from environment ministry and take a decision that is in the best interest of the nation. I'm not commenting on this decision. All I'm saying is that if the previous govts did not give a permission for this, that too is valid. These things are a part of everyday governance. And yes. India HAS to put up environment as an important consideration. Already country's environmental scene is a mess.

Why not test it inside your house, what will happen at the worst, your family will get EXTINCT so be it, But neighbouring human race is smart they will adapt and migrate.

Lets not be silly that security is prime important. In order to secure your controlled land, you are willing to destroy the land for which you are doing all this. So when you will not have a balanced ecology what will you do with barren lands?

Unlike many other nations, we dont have ample green land, we are already over populated and we cannot waste even single inch of land, given the way we are growing. Thus it becomes more important for us the ensure we safeguard what we have as of now, so that our future can be secured.

There are 572 islands in the Andaman & Nicobar having an area of 8,073 km2 (3,117 sq mi), a few islands out of that for missile testing won't make much of a difference to the local flora & faunas and birds.

Btw, even radiation from mobile phone towers (and most other inventions of mankind) are also bad for flora & faunas and birds.

 

[Viny]

There is no place on the Indian coast where the Navy can test its weaponry

IAF and Army already have their own test ranges

Now Andaman is the only one place where the Navy can fire its weapons FROM the ships
as they would do during real combat situation

SO Hell with the birds

We are just a densely populated country ; there will always be people
around

It is hard to find unpopulated areas

And fortunately we have a few left in the Andamans

So lets us use them for our security rather than obsess about birds

I am not sure how much you know about Indian Navy and its testing facilities.
But to tell you in laymen terms, vast area of rann of Kutch is available, just in case.
Secondly they can always make artificial floating objects to test there missile attack practices.
ABB shipping at Surat Dock is already building them for for global navies.

And whom are you trying to secure at what price?

 

[SQ8]

There are 572 islands in the territory having an area of 8,073 km2 (3,117 sq mi) in Andaman & Nicobar, a few islands out of that for missile testing won't make much of a difference to the local flora & faunas and birds.

Btw, even radiation from mobile phone towers (and most other inventions of mankind) are also bad for flora & faunas and birds.

The cell towers are also a menace. Mankind is like a parasite on earth, destroying it bit by bit.
What little efforts can be made should be.

Especially when endangered species are concerned.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

But to tell you in laymen terms, vast area of rann of Kutch is available, just in case.

SO that Pakistani spy planes and Chinese satellites can capture everything

The Andaman forests do provide some cover for the naval tests

Satellites cannot totally penetrate forests

Secondly they can always make artificial floating objects to test there missile attack practices.

Are these floating objects FREE of cost

 

[Viny]

There are 572 islands in the Andaman & Nicobar having an area of 8,073 km2 (3,117 sq mi), a few islands out of that for missile testing won't make much of a difference to the local flora & faunas and birds.

Btw, even radiation from mobile phone towers (and most other inventions of mankind) are also bad for flora & faunas and birds.

572 is total if islands, islets and rock lyings
8093 sqKm was before tsunami now its arround 7900+ sqKM and which sea warming and rising each year, its sinking and shrinking.

Mobile towers are available only on around 5 islands which are inhabited by modern world people.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

And whom are you trying to secure at what price?

There is plenty of environmental damage already happeneing because of
GROWING population in India

Why dont we stop that first

The biggest threat to environment is the rising population

 

[Viny]

SO that Pakistani spy planes and Chinese satellites can capture everything

The Andaman forests do provide some cover for the naval tests

Satellites cannot totally penetrate forests

Are these floating objects FREE of cost

Do you know what are process done if you do a missile test?

If you think nature comes to us for free of cost than you are not matured enough to discuss further on this topic.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

@Viny

Let us save the TIGER and the elephant and the crocodile and the Rhinoceres
the Bison ; the Black buck ; the leopard and the various other animals
ON THE MAINLAND INDIA

And forget about those birds

 

[Shabz Nist]

There is plenty of environmental damage already happeneing because of
GROWING population in India

Why dont we stop that first

The biggest threat to environment is the rising population

Sure. Doesn't mean we need to wipe out all the critically endangered species before figuring out how to reduce population growth to sustainable levels.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

If you think nature comes to us for free of cost than you are not matured enough to discuss further on this topic

You are in the wrong place ie PDF if you are so obsessed with environment

Infact the Army guys plant a lot of trees and care for the environment

What you are proposing is nothing but stupidity that
Andamans be RESERVED for Birds

Do you know USA has DESTROYED SO MANY ISLANDS around the world with
Nuclear and Conventional weapons tests