GREAT NICOBAR ISLAND PROJECT

10.09.2025

GREAT NICOBAR ISLAND PROJECT

Context
The Union government requested a factual report from Andaman and Nicobar administration after the Tribal Council alleged 13,000 hectares were diverted for the ₹81,000-crore Great Nicobar Island Project without settled forest rights.

The Great Nicobar Island Project

The Great Nicobar Island Project is a major infrastructure development initiative aimed at transforming Great Nicobar Island into a strategic and economic hub in the Indian Ocean.

Key Components:

• Deep-draft International Container Transshipment Terminal at Galathea Bay to facilitate global trade and reduce dependency on foreign ports.
   
• International Airport capable of handling wide-bodied aircraft to boost tourism and strategic connectivity.
   
• Gas- and Solar-based Power Plant providing sustainable and reliable energy for growing infrastructure needs.
   
• Modern Township with residential, commercial, and recreational facilities to accommodate the workforce and population influx.
   

Strategic and Economic Importance:

• Located near the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, enhancing India’s strategic presence in the Indian Ocean.
   
• Expected to stimulate the local economy, create jobs, attract investments, and promote tourism.
   
• Improved connectivity through the port and airport will integrate Great Nicobar into regional and global trade networks.
   

Environmental and Social Considerations:

• Concerns over impact on biodiversity, including endangered species unique to the island.
   
• Potential effects on indigenous communities, primarily the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes, whose rights and livelihoods require protection.
   
• Emphasis on renewable energy and eco-friendly practices to balance development and conservation.
   

About Great Nicobar

Great Nicobar is the largest island of the Nicobar Islands, part of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is located near the western entrance of the Malacca Strait, a vital maritime route for international trade.

Key Features:

• Situated at the southern end of the Nicobar Islands, approximately 1,280 km from mainland India.
   
• Diverse landscapes: dense tropical rainforests, hilly terrain, and coastal areas, with Mount Thullier as the highest point (642 m).
   
• Rich biodiversity under the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, hosting endemic and endangered species like the Nicobar megapode, Nicobar tree shrew, and saltwater crocodile.
   
• Sparsely populated by indigenous tribes (Nicobarese and Shompen) and settlers.
   
• Strategic location enhances India’s maritime security, with Indian military installations monitoring the Indian Ocean Region.
   

Strategic Importance

• The Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean are crucial for India’s security and maritime interests, particularly amid Chinese naval expansion.
   
• Concerns over Chinese activities in key Indo-Pacific chokepoints (Malacca, Sunda, Lombok) and construction on Coco Islands, Myanmar.
   
• Military upgrades on Andaman & Nicobar Islands include modern airfields, jetties, logistics facilities, and surveillance systems.
   
• Ensures deployment readiness of warships, aircraft, missile batteries, and troops, maintaining surveillance and strategic control over the region.
   

Environmental Concerns

• Opposition exists due to potential ecological threats, including deforestation of nearly 1 million trees, coral reef damage, and threats to species like Nicobar Megapode and leatherback turtles.
   
• Impacts on Shompen tribe, a vulnerable tribal group with a population of a few hundred individuals.
   
• Seismic risks highlighted: The area experienced 15 feet subsidence during the 2004 tsunami.
   
• Tribal council withdrew no-objection certificate for 160 sq km forest diversion, citing inadequate consultation.
   
• National Green Tribunal (NGT) formed a high-power committee to review clearances; report submission remains unclear.

Conclusion
The Great Nicobar Island Project, while strategically and economically significant, must balance development with environmental protection and tribal rights, ensuring sustainable growth, biodiversity conservation, and the well-being of indigenous communities.