The ambitious Great Nicobar Island development project, once flagged for its ecological sensitivity, has now received a fresh green nod after a high-level review. This strategic infrastructure project, located at the southernmost tip of India, is set to reshape the Indian Ocean’s economic and security landscape. However, environmentalists warn of irreversible consequences to one of India’s most biodiverse regions.
Reassessing Environmental Clearance on Great Nicobar Island
Initially, the Great Nicobar Project faced significant resistance as parts of the proposed port, airport, and township were believed to fall in the Island Coastal Regulation Zone-IA (ICRZ-IA) — a legally protected ecological zone that prohibits major development activities.
However, a High-Powered Committee (HPC), constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in April 2023, re-evaluated the environmental clearance granted earlier. According to the committee’s latest findings, the transshipment port and other facilities do not fall under ICRZ-IA, but instead lie within ICRZ-IB, where such projects are permissible with clearance.
This overturns the claim made by the Andaman and Nicobar Coastal Zone Management Authority, which had previously stated that nearly 7 sq km of the project fell under ICRZ-IA, encompassing ecologically sensitive habitats.
The HPC’s assessment was based on a ground-truthing survey conducted by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM). The committee’s report was submitted to the NGT’s Kolkata bench by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO), marking the first public disclosure of its findings.
What is the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ)?
The Island Coastal Regulation Zone Notification of 2019 categorizes coastal stretches of India’s islands under different zones to regulate industrial and infrastructural development.
- ICRZ-IA includes highly sensitive areas such as mangroves, coral reefs, turtle nesting sites, and bird habitats.
- Only eco-tourism activities, minor public utilities, and strategic defense infrastructure (with special permission) are allowed in this zone.
- ICRZ-IB, by contrast, allows for regulated construction including ports and airports with environmental safeguards.
The Legal Challenge and Petition
The project’s environmental legitimacy was contested by Ashish Kothari, an environmental activist, who filed a petition before the NGT. The petition demanded the exclusion of project activities from ICRZ-IA zones, citing threats to endangered species such as the leatherback sea turtle and the Nicobar megapode bird, particularly in Galathea Bay, a declared ICRZ-IA zone.
While the NGT did not suspend the project’s forest clearance, it mandated a reassessment of its environmental clearance by forming the HPC. The bench also ordered that no further development work proceed until the report was submitted. However, ANIIDCO withheld the HPC meeting minutes, citing the project’s defense-sensitive nature.
Scope of the Great Nicobar Island Project
The Great Nicobar Island Project is part of a broader vision to develop the Andaman and Nicobar Islands into an economic and strategic hub in the Indo-Pacific.
Key components:
- An international container transshipment terminal (ICTT) controlled by the Indian Navy
- A dual-use international airport for military and civilian purposes
- A greenfield township
- A 450 MVA hybrid power plant (gas and solar)
- Development over 16,610 hectares, requiring the diversion of over 130 sq km of forest land
- Estimated loss of over 9.64 lakh trees
Why Great Nicobar Island Is Strategically Crucial
The strategic value of Great Nicobar Island stems from its geographic location:
- It lies equidistant from Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Port Klang (Malaysia), and is close to Singapore, placing it near the East-West shipping corridor, one of the busiest maritime routes in the world.
- This makes it ideal for a transshipment hub, reducing India’s reliance on foreign ports for re-export.
- The project also responds to China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean, providing India with a strategic counterbalance in the Bay of Bengal.
Environmental Red Flags for Great Nicobar Island
Despite its strategic significance, the project faces fierce opposition from environmental groups and ecologists who raise several red flags:
- Galathea Bay, a proposed site for the port, is an important nesting site for leatherback turtles—a critically endangered species.
- The region is home to:
- 14 species of mammals
- 71 bird species
- 26 reptiles
- 10 amphibians
- 113 types of fish, many of them endemic or threatened
- The island’s mangroves, coral reefs, and coastal wetlands are at risk due to dredging, tree-felling, and increased runoff.
- The felling of nearly a million trees will increase soil erosion and sedimentation in coastal waters, potentially damaging coral reefs already under stress from climate change.
About Great Nicobar Island
- Great Nicobar Island, the southernmost of the Andaman and Nicobar group, spans 910 sq km and is home to around 8,000 settlers as well as two tribal communities: the Shompen and the Nicobarese.
- It houses two national parks, a biosphere reserve, and tropical evergreen forests.
- Indira Point, India’s southernmost point, lies here, less than 150 km from Indonesia.
Conclusion: A Crossroads of Development and Ecology
The Great Nicobar Island Project is a defining test of India’s ability to balance development with sustainability. While the green signal from the HPC clears a legal path, the environmental implications remain deeply contested. As India aims to assert itself in the Indo-Pacific region, how it handles the Great Nicobar Island will be closely watched — both by strategic planners and environmentalists.
To Download Monthly Current Affairs PDF Click here
Click here to get a free demo
Discover all about CLAT Exam
