The opposition party has recently labelled the proposed Rs 72,000-crore infrastructure development on Great Nicobar Island as a serious danger to the island’s indigenous people and delicate ecosystem. They have called for an immediate halt to all project approvals and a comprehensive, unbiased review of the plan, including an examination by relevant Parliamentary committees.
Great Nicobar Island
Overview
- Location: Southernmost and largest of the Nicobar Islands
- Area: 910 sq km
- Environment: Mainly tropical rainforest
- Region: Southeastern Bay of Bengal
Key Points:
- Indira Point: India’s southernmost point
- Distance: 90 nautical miles (<170 km) from Sabang, Sumatra (Indonesia)
Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
- Total Islands: 836
- Division: Andaman Islands (north) and Nicobar Islands (south)
- Separation: 10° Channel, 150 km wide
Conservation:
- National Parks: 2
- Biosphere Reserve: 1
Inhabitants:
- Tribal Populations: Shompen, Onge, Andamanese, Nicobarese
- Non-Tribal Settlers: Few thousand
Great Nicobar Island Project
About
- Launch Year: 2021
- Location: Southern end of Andaman and Nicobar islands
Project Components
- Trans-shipment Port
- International Airport
- Township Development
- 450 MVA Gas and Solar-based Power Plant
Report by NITI Aayog:
- Identified strategic position of the island
- Equidistant from Colombo (Sri Lanka) to the southwest
- Equidistant from Port Klang (Malaysia) and Singapore to the southeast
Project Implementation
Authority: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO)
Components:
- International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT)
- Greenfield international airport
Strategic Location
- Proximity: Near Malacca Strait
- Significance: Connects the Indian Ocean to the Pacific
- Impact: Enables Great Nicobar to engage in regional and global maritime economy
Development Site
- Location: Galathea Bay, southeastern Great Nicobar Island
- Human Habitation: None
Strategic Importance
Military Deployment
- Objective: Facilitate deployment of additional military forces
- Capabilities: Larger warships, aircraft, missile batteries, and troops
Surveillance and Deterrence
- Surveillance: Close monitoring of the archipelago
- National Security: Strong military deterrence crucial for India’s security
Regional Security Concerns
Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean:
- Significance: Critical for India’s strategic and security interests
- Chinese Military: Increased presence and influence by the People’s Liberation Army Navy
Key Choke Points:
- Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits
- Concerns: Potential Chinese naval buildup
Coco Islands
- Chinese Expansion: Building military facility
- Location: 55 km north of India’s Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Indian Concerns: Maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region
Challenges Related to the Great Nicobar Island Project
Impact on Indigenous Tribes
- Tribal Groups: Shompen and Nicobarese
- Population: Few hundred individuals
- Lifestyle: Hunter-gatherers, closely tied to the natural environment
Concerns:
- Potentially devastating impact on the Shompen tribe and their way of life
- Violation of the Forest Rights Act (2006)
- Shompen are legally empowered to protect and manage the tribal reserve
Threat to Island Ecology
Tree Felling: Nearly a million trees to be cut down
Marine Impact:
- Destruction of coral reefs
- Threat to local marine ecosystem
Wildlife Threats:
- Terrestrial Nicobar Megapode bird
- Leatherback turtles in Galathea Bay
- Land Mass: Affects about 15% of GNI’s land
- One of the largest forest diversions in a unique rainforest ecosystem
Seismic Vulnerability
- Location: Seismically volatile zone
- Historical Context: Permanent subsidence of 15 feet during the 2004 tsunami
- Concerns: Safety and viability of constructing large-scale infrastructure in a high-risk area
Lack of Adequate Consultation
- Accusations: Insufficient consultation with the Tribal Council of Great and Little Nicobar Islands
- Legal Requirements: Not adequately met
Way Forward
Inclusion of Tribal Councils
- Integrate Tribal Councils of Great and Little Nicobar Islands in decision-making processes
- Respect traditional knowledge and legal rights under the Forest Rights Act (2006)
High-Power Committee
- Form a high-power committee as per NGT’s order
- Include representatives from environmental groups, tribal councils, and independent experts
- Purpose: Oversee environmental and forest clearances
Source: Strategic imperative and environment concern in Great Nicobar project