THE GREAT NICOBAR PROJECT

THE GREAT NICOBAR PROJECT

IN NEWS –

Recently, the opposition party has described the proposed Rs 72,000-crore infrastructure upgrade at the Great Nicobar Island as a "grave threat" to the island's indigenous inhabitants and fragile ecosystem, and demanded immediate suspension of all clearances and a thorough, impartial review of the proposed project, including by the concerned Parliamentary committees.

WHAT IS THE GREAT NICOBAR ISLAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT?

The Great Nicobar Project- The project involves a comprehensive Rs 72,000-crore infrastructure upgrade on Great Nicobar Island. It is being implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).

The project covers 16,610 hectares and aims to leverage the island’s strategic location near the Malacca Strait. The Great Nicobar Island Development project includes developing an
1. An International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT)
2. A greenfield international airport
3. Two greenfield cities
4. A coastal mass rapid transport system
5. A free trade zones

Proposal

• The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) is a mega project to be implemented at the southern end of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
• The project includes an international container trans-shipment terminal, a greenfield international airport, township development, and a 450 MVA gas and solar based power plant over an extent of 16,610 hectares in the island.
• The port will be controlled by the Indian Navy, while the airport will have dual military-civilian functions and will cater to tourism as well.

WHY IS DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED?

• Economic reasons
  • The government’s greater goal is to leverage the locational advantage of the island for economic and strategic reasons.
  • Great Nicobar is equidistant from Colombo to the southwest and Port Klang and Singapore to the southeast.
  • It is positioned close to the East-West international shipping corridor, through which a very large part of the world’s shipping trade passes.
  • The proposed ICTT can potentially become a hub for cargo ships travelling on this route.
  • As per the NITI Aayog report, the proposed port will allow Great Nicobar to participate in the regional and global maritime economy by becoming a major player in cargo transhipment.
• Strategic & Security reasons
  • The proposal to develop Great Nicobar was first floated in the 1970s, and its importance for national security and consolidation of the Indian Ocean Region has been repeatedly underlined.
  • Increasing Chinese assertion in the Bay of Bengal and the Indo-Pacific has added great urgency to this imperative in recent years.
  • India is wary of a build-up of Chinese maritime forces at the Indo-Pacific choke points of especially Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok.
  • China’s attempts to expand its footprint in the region includes building a military facility at Coco Islands (Myanmar) lying just 55 km to the north of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
  • Close surveillance of the entire area around the archipelago, and the building up of a strong military deterrence at Great Nicobar is of vital importance to India’s national security

CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED TO THIS DEVELOPMENT

The proposed massive infrastructure development in an ecologically important and fragile region has alarmed many environmentalists.

• Forest Diversion
  • The project requires the diversion of approximately 130 square kilometers of forest land.
  • This would necessitate the felling of around 10 lakh (1 million) trees, leading to significant loss of biodiversity and disruption of the ecosystem.
• Denotification of Wildlife Sanctuaries
  • The project has led to the denotification of two wildlife sanctuaries-  Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Megapode Wildlife Sanctuary .
  • Their denotification means that these areas will no longer be legally protected, exposing the wildlife to threats from human activities such as construction, pollution, and habitat destruction.
• Endangering Species
  • The project impacts critical habitats for endangered species such as the giant leatherback turtle and the Nicobar megapode.
  • Disruption of these habitats could lead to a decline in the population of these already endangered species, further pushing them towards extinction.
• Tribal Rights Violations
  • Some areas designated for the project overlap with the ancestral lands of the Great Nicobarese tribe.
  • This encroachment threatens the traditional way of life and cultural heritage of the Great Nicobarese.
• Consent Issues
  • The Tribal Council of Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar withdrew its no-objection certificate, citing rushed consent procedures and lack of transparency.
• Health Risks
  • Increased outside contact due to the project poses health risks to the Shompen tribe, who have limited immunity to common infectious diseases.
• Seismic Risks
  • The project proponents have been criticized for failing to adequately assess earthquake risks, given that the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago is located in a seismically active region known as the “Ring of Fire”  .
  • Infrastructure built without considering these risks might not withstand earthquakes, leading to loss of life and property, and environmental damage.

ABOUT THE GREAT NICOBAR ISLAND – AN OVERVIEW

Location

• Geography: Southernmost tip of India, part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
• Terrain: Hilly, covered with lush rainforests, receiving around 3,500 mm of annual rainfall.
• Ecology: Hosts numerous endangered and endemic species including the giant leatherback turtle and Nicobar crab-eating macaque.
• Area: 910 sq km, with mangroves and Pandan forests along the coast.

Tribal Communities

•  Shompen:
  • Population: Approximately 250.
  • Occupation: Hunter-gatherers, living in interior forests.
  • Classification: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
• Nicobarese:
  • Groups: Great Nicobarese and Little Nicobarese.
  • Occupation: Farming and fishing.
  • Population: Around 450 Great Nicobarese (resettled in Campbell Bay) and 850 Little Nicobarese (mainly in Afra Bay and other islands).

Population

• Origins: Settled by retired military servicemen and their families between 1968-1975.
• Communities: From Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

Current Population: Approximately 6,000 settlers, including short-term and long-term migrants.