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Great Nicobar Project
Context
The Indian government has proposed a significant infrastructure upgrade on Great Nicobar Island, encompassing an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport, a township, and a power plant. This initiative is part of a broader plan for the holistic development of the island, aimed at leveraging its strategic location in the Bay of Bengal.
About the project
- Project title: ‘Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island at Andaman and Nicobar Islands’
- Cost: Rs 72,000 crore
- Implemented by: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).
- The project has four components –
- an International Transhipment Port (ITP)
- Greenfield International Airport
- a power plant
- a new township that could constitute a Special Economic Zone
- These four interlinked projects form the core of the new city and the holistic master plan.
Significance of the project:
- Great Nicobar Island holds strategic significance due to its proximity to major international maritime routes, including the Malacca Strait.
- The ICTT is expected to enhance India's participation in the global maritime economy and bolster regional connectivity.
- Additionally, the region's military upgrade aims to strengthen India's defense posture in response to geopolitical developments, particularly concerning Chinese naval activities in the Indo-Pacific.
Environmental Concerns and Opposition
- The proposed project has faced opposition from conservationists, wildlife experts, and local tribal councils, citing concerns over its environmental impact.
- Critics argue that the development could lead to deforestation, threaten marine ecosystems, and endanger vulnerable species like the Nicobar Megapode and leatherback turtles.
- There are also apprehensions about the potential disruption to the indigenous Shompen tribe's habitat and traditional way of life.
Steps were taken to mitigate the Losses:
- Building Coral population: Proposed mitigation measures to compensate for these damages include coral translocation and reef restoration in Galathea Bay.
- Compensatory Afforestation: Authorities plan to balance the loss of 12-20 hectares of mangroves here by ‘re-densifying’ existing mangrove patches and planting mangroves in non-forest areas.
- Declaring Protected areas: Mitigation measures also include intent to declare new protected areas, as well as the drawing up of monitoring and action plans to study threatened wildlife.
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