Great Nicobar Mega Project: Importance and Challenges

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The Rs 72,000-crore mega infrastructure upgradation project proposed on the Nicobar Islands is facing criticism from conservationists.

What is the mega project of Niti Aayog

• In March 2021, NITI Aayog has launched a new initiative for the Andaman and Nicobar IslandsOfHolistic Development of Great Nicobar IslandFor₹72,000 crore scheme unveiledWas, 
  • The scheme is being implemented by Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).
• Major infrastructure covered under this mega infrastructure project
  • International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT)
  • A greenfield international airport with a capacity to handle 4,000 passengers
  • a township
  • A gas and solar based power plant of 16,610 hectares
• The Great Nicobar Island is close to the Strait of Malacca, the main waterway linking the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.
  • ICTT will help Great Nicobar participate in the regional and global maritime economy through cargo transshipment.
• Galathea Bay on the south-eastern shore of Great Nicobar Island, where there is no human habitation, has been selected for the proposed ICTT and power plant.

Strategic importance of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are strategically important for India's security. The importance of these islands has increased further in view of the intervention of the Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean.
  • The first requirement of maritime security is to keep the vast area around the islands under surveillance
  • To ensure a strong deterrence against naval misadventure
  • Building infrastructure that will boost India's maritime economy
• The archipelago is strategically located near the main shipping route across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia.

Reasons for slow development of strategic infrastructure

• Distance from the mainland: Distance from the mainland and difficulties in developing infrastructure have been used as an excuse to delay and stall various projects.
• Environmental Clearance: Complex processes for obtaining environmental clearance have been a hindrance even for small projects.
  • Regulations regarding the protection of forests and indigenous tribes have complicated land acquisition issues.
• Lack of coordination: The development of islands and strategic infrastructure is a multi-faceted project involving multiple ministries, departments and agencies, which presents significant coordination challenges.
• Lack of political will: The conflict between long-term strategic vision and immediate political gains often tilts in favour of immediate gains.

Why is there opposition to the project

• This massive project has been heavily criticised for its ecological costs and possible violations of tribal rights.
  • About 130 square kilometer of forest land is to be used for this project and about 10 lakh trees are to be cut.
• In January 2021 itself, the Government of India denotified two wildlife sanctuaries, Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Megapode Wildlife Sanctuary, to carry forward the project.
  • While Galathea Bay is also part of the “National Marine Turtle Action Plan” of the Government of India.
  • Galathea Bay, one of the world's largest nesting sites for the Giant Leatherback Turtle, is to be developed as a transshipment terminal.
  • Both the leatherback turtle and the Nicobar megapode are listed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection Act), 1972.
• In November 2022, the Tribal Council of Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar withdrew the No Objection Certificate (NOC) granted for the project.
  • The Tribal Council says the administration had concealed crucial information about the use of tribal reserve lands and had hastily obtained consent from tribal communities.
• Some of the land classified as “unoccupied” in the Niti Aayog scheme is also part of the ancestral lands of the Great Nicobari people.
  • Since the tsunami, they have repeatedly demanded to return to these lands for their rehabilitation - but have faced administrative apathy. Today, this mega project is also standing in the way of their demand for return.
• Here the Adam tribe 'Shompen' has very little contact with the outside world and hence they have not developed immunity to infectious diseases.
  • Some Shompen settlements also exist in areas earmarked for use for transshipment terminals.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located in the seismically active region “Ring of Fire”. The region has experienced around 500 earthquakes of varying intensity in the last decade. The region is classified as the most seismically hazardous geographical region (Category V).

Suggestions for development of infrastructure on the islands

• The first requirement for maritime security is to keep the larger area around the islands under surveillance.
  • The security of all 836 islands, whether inhabited or uninhabited, must be ensured, so that they cannot be occupied or used by entities involved in illegal activities.
• A strong resistance must be ensured against any naval adventurism from the East.
  • For this, strong presence of Army, Navy and Air Force is very important here.
• Infrastructure to boost India's maritime economy should be built on the southern islands, which are strategically located near the main shipping routes across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia.
• It is important to facilitate travel between islands and from the mainland to the island. Without rapid movement of people and goods, development will be slow.
  • Improved transportation will help enhance and sustain the tourism potential of the islands.
• The islands' dependence on mainland support, whether in relation to foodstuffs or relevant local industries that support maintenance, repairs and other services, should be reduced as much as possible.
• Work on the Galathea Bay (Great Nicobar Island) transshipment port should be expedited. Maritime services such as repairs and logistics should be developed for international and Indian shipping.
• Forest and environmental clearances should be given with minimum red tape.
  • The concessions given for defence infrastructure on India's northern borders should be extended to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.