Great Nicobar Project

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.