GREAT NICOBAR ISLAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Why In News?

The Great Nicobar Island Project faces criticism for the planned felling of nearly one million trees and potential impacts on the Shompen and Nicobarese indigenous communities.

What is the Great Nicobar Project?

The Great Nicobar Island Development Project is an ₹81,000 crore mega infrastructure initiative conceived by NITI Aayog.

The project is planned in phases over 30 years and spans 166.10 sq km on India's southernmost island. It consists of four interlinked components:

• An International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Galathea Bay with a final capacity of 16 million TEUs.
• A greenfield dual-use International Airport designed to handle 4,000 peak-hour passengers and support military operations.
• A 450 MVA gas and solar-based power plant.
• Two new greenfield coastal cities aimed at developing a tourism and commercial hub, capable of supporting a projected population of over 3.25 lakh by 2040.

Why is the project strategically important for India?

Geostrategic Location: The island is positioned just 40 nautical miles from major international shipping routes and close to the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits. This allows India to closely monitor sea routes vital to global trade and energy supplies.

National Security: A permanent defense and naval presence facilitated by the new airport will help India counter foreign military expansion in the Indian Ocean—most notably China's "string of pearls" strategy—aligning with India's Act East Policy and the QUAD strategy.

Economic Independence: Currently, nearly 75% of India's transshipped cargo is handled by foreign ports like Colombo and Singapore. The ICTT will position India as a global transshipment hub, reducing foreign reliance, generating forex savings, and attracting foreign direct investment.

Regional Development: The infrastructure is expected to spur high-end tourism, elevate local living standards, and create over 1 lakh direct jobs for the region.

What are the concerns associated with the project?

Massive Deforestation: The development will clear approximately 130 sq km of primary tropical rainforest, involving the felling of around 1 million old-growth trees.

Threat to Wildlife and Marine Ecology: The project severely threatens local biodiversity, including the nesting sites of the vulnerable giant leatherback sea turtle. 

• To facilitate the port, the Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was denotified.
• Construction also risks damaging sensitive coral reefs located in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ 1A) areas.

Existential Threat to Indigenous Tribes: Influx of outsiders and the reduction of tribal reserves pose threat to the uncontacted Shompen and Nicobarese communities. 

• Experts have warned that exposure to outside diseases and displacement could decimate these isolated tribes.

Seismic and Disaster Vulnerability: Great Nicobar is situated in one of the world's most highly active tectonic zones. 

• During the 2004 tsunami, the island's coastline experienced a permanent subsidence of up to 1.5 to 3 meters, raising serious concerns about the safety of investing billions in a vulnerable coastal zone.

Inadequate Ecological Compensation: Government's strategy of off-site afforestation in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh fails to replicate the unique island biodiversity lost to rainforest destruction.

What should be the way forward?

Mitigate Ecological Impact: Conduct independent biodiversity assessments to identify habitats and find law-compliant infrastructure sites. Prioritize local forest restoration over mainland afforestation efforts.

Safeguard Tribal Rights: Minimize displacement of Shompen and Nicobarese tribes by maintaining strict buffers. Establish a community council to guarantee inclusive decisions, fair compensation, and livelihood aid.

Institutional Oversight: Establish an independent body of environmentalists and officials to ensure project accountability and regulatory compliance.

Resource Management: Utilize climate-resilient infrastructure and sustainable systems for water, food, and energy to mitigate environmental risks.

Conclusion

The Great Nicobar Project seeks to strengthen national security and the maritime economy, its success depends on mitigating irreversible damage to unique biodiversity, seismic stability, and indigenous ancestral lands.

Source: PIB