Great Nicobar ‘Holistic Development’ Project, spearheaded by the NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) has stirred considerable debate.Initially flagged for potentially falling within a no-go zone, the project has now been deemed permissible by a high-powered committee (HPC) appointed by the National
Great Nicobar ‘Holistic Development’ Project
- Project Overview: Launched in 2021, the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) project is a mega infrastructure initiative aimed at transforming the southern end of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Components
- Trans-shipment Port: An International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT) expected to bolster regional and global maritime economy.
- Greenfield International Airport: Facilitating global connectivity.
- Township Development: New urban development that may include a Special Economic Zone.
- Power Plant: A 450 MVA gas and solar-based power plant.
- Strategic Location: Positioned near the Malacca Strait, a key maritime route connecting the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
- The project aims to facilitate the deployment of additional military forces, larger warships, aircraft, missile batteries, and troops.
- Close to the Malacca Strait, the upgrade is crucial for India’s strategic interests, particularly against the backdrop of increasing Chinese presence and influence in the region.
Project Impact on Environment
- Deforestation: The project will involve the felling of approximately 8.5 lakh trees in the rich rainforests of Great Nicobar.
- Wildlife Displacement: The de-notification of the Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and the declaration of a “zero extent” eco-sensitive zone for Galathea National Park threaten critical habitats.
- Ecological Destruction: Home to unique and threatened tropical evergreen forest ecosystems, the construction may cause irreversible damage to the island’s biodiversity, including endemic species like the Nicobar Megapode and leatherback turtles.
- Biodiversity Protection: The project contradicts India’s commitments under the Convention for Biological Diversity to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and protect areas of high ecological importance.
- Concerns of the Local Tribes: The Shompen and Nicobarese tribes, primary inhabitants of the island, face significant displacement and cultural disruption.Despite claims of protecting tribal interests, local communities have not received adequate responses to their concerns and requests for relocation.Local communities withdrew their consent for the project in November 2022, which is necessary for its implementation as the land is part of the tribal reserve.
Technical and Legal Issues
- Seismic Risks: Great Nicobar rests on a major fault line and is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. There has been no comprehensive risk assessment conducted for these natural hazards.
- Inadequate Reports: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report lacks compliance with several Terms of Reference and fails to address critical environmental and social impacts.
- Legal Challenges: Many approvals and exemptions granted under various laws protecting forests, tribal rights, and coastal ecosystems could face legal challenges in courts and tribunals.
Project Previously Flagged in a No-Go Zone
- Initial Information: The Andaman & Nicobar Coastal Management Authority stated that the port, airport, and township spanned 7 sq km in the Island Coastal Regulation Zone-IA (ICRZ-IA), where port activities are prohibited.
- Environmental Concerns: The ICRZ-IA areas ecologically sensitive zones including mangroves, corals, coral reefs, sand dunes, mudflats, marine parks, wildlife habitats, salt marshes, turtle and bird nesting grounds
- Permitted Activities in ICRZ-IA: Eco-tourism activities like mangrove walks and natural trails, Roads and roads-on-stilts for defence and strategic projects, with necessary permits.