A project of strategic and national importance
The article defends and explains the Great Nicobar Island Project, calling it a development of strategic, defence, and national importance. The project includes:
- International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) (14.2 million TEU capacity)
- Greenfield International Airport
- 450 MVA gas & solar-based power plant
- Township development over 16,610 hectares
Strategic and Developmental Importance
- The project aims to make Great Nicobar a maritime and air connectivity hub in the Indian Ocean Region.
- It is expected to boost defence preparedness, economic growth, and employment generation.
Environmental Safeguards
- Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plans (EMP) were conducted.
- ₹81.55 crore has already been released for wildlife conservation studies before construction began.
- Out of 130.75 sq. km of forest land required, 99 sq. km will remain green without tree felling.
- Compensatory afforestation is planned in Haryana (97.30 sq. km) due to lack of non-forest land in the islands.
- Wildlife corridors and viaducts are planned for safe passage of animals.
Tribal Safeguards
- No displacement of Shompen or Nicobarese tribes is planned.
- Consultations with Anthropological Survey of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and AAJVS (Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti) have been conducted.
- Out of 84.10 sq. km tribal reserve affected, 07 sq. km will be de-notified but 76.98 sq. km re-notified, leading to a net increase of 3.912 sq. km in tribal reserve.
- Provisions comply with Jarawa Policy (2004) and Shompen Policy (2015).
- A monitoring committee has been set up for tribal welfare during and after project execution.
Scale and Phasing
- Total area: 10 sq. km (35.35 sq. km revenue land + 130.75 sq. km forest land).
- Phased development:
- Phase I (2025–35): 72.12 sq. km
- Phase II (2036–41): 45.27 sq. km
- Phase III (2042–47): 48.71 sq. km
Balancing Ecology and Economy
- Institutions like ZSI, BSI, SACON, and WII have been involved in ecological studies.
- The project is portrayed as “economy and ecology complementing each other”, ensuring environmental safeguards alongside development.
- Only ~2% of A&N Islands’ total area and ~1.82% of its forest cover will be diverted.
