The Great Nicobar Mega Project

The Great Nicobar Project aims to develop a port, airport, and township on India’s southernmost island, balancing strategic goals with ecological and tribal concerns.

The Great Nicobar Mega Project

Syllabus: Environment, Conservation, and Sustainable Development (UPSC GS III, Editorial Analysis)
Source: The Hindu

Introduction

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are among the world’s richest biodiversity zones. They host tropical rainforests, coral reefs, mangroves, and several rare species.
These islands act as crucial carbon sinks and stabilize the Indian Ocean’s climate.

However, recent projects have focused on large-scale infrastructure with limited concern for the islands’ fragile ecology. The Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island Project—which includes a port, airport, power plant, and township—has raised widespread concerns among ecologists and tribal rights experts.

Ecological Importance of Great Nicobar

Unique Species: Home to the Nicobar megapode, Nicobar macaque, and one of the world’s largest leatherback turtle nesting sites.
Carbon Reservoir: Dense tropical forests store large amounts of carbon vital for climate regulation.
Biodiversity Hotspot: Part of the Sundaland Hotspot, recognized by IUCN for high species endemism.
Natural Protection: Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves provide resilience against cyclones, tsunamis, and erosion.

Losing these ecosystems would not only affect wildlife but also disrupt ecological balance and local livelihoods.

The Great Nicobar Project: Strategic and Economic Importance

The Great Nicobar Island is strategically located astride the sea lanes leading to the Strait of Malacca — one of the world’s busiest and most vital maritime routes in the Indo-Pacific.
From Indira Point (India’s southernmost tip) to Aceh in Indonesia, the distance is only about 80 nautical miles (≈148 km), underlining the island’s geo-strategic value.

The central government argues that the project, considering its strategic and economic importance, will place India firmly on the global map of transcontinental cargo trade.

Key Features of the Project Area (Map Overview):

Location Context:
- North Andaman, South Andaman, Little Andaman, Great Nicobar
- Surrounding waters: Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea
- Nearby regions: Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia (Aceh)
Infrastructure Components:
- Transshipment Port at Galathea Bay
- International Airport near Campbell Bay
- Gas and Solar Power Plant at Little Nicobar and Dairkurat
- Township with industrial and residential zones
Island Size: Approximately 910 sq. km
(Map Not to Scale)

This positioning gives India a unique advantage for trade, maritime security, and regional influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Ecological Challenges

1. Forest Clearance and Habitat Loss

About 13,000 hectares of dense evergreen forest are proposed to be cleared, affecting millions of trees and several endemic species.
Such large-scale loss will fragment habitats and increase human–wildlife conflicts.

2. Marine Ecosystem Threats

The Galathea Bay area, one of the four major leatherback turtle nesting sites in the Indo-Pacific, faces risks from dredging, shipping, and port construction.

3. Disaster and Climate Risks

Located in a high seismic zone, Great Nicobar was severely impacted by the 2004 tsunami. Heavy construction increases the risk of disaster vulnerability and carbon emissions.

4. Ineffective Compensatory Afforestation

Replanting forests on the mainland (in Haryana or Madhya Pradesh) cannot replace the ecological functions of tropical island rainforests.

Impact on Indigenous Communities

Two tribes inhabit the Nicobar group —

Nicobarese Tribe: Semi-assimilated into modern systems.
Shompen Tribe: Classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).

The project overlaps with Shompen’s traditional habitat, threatening their isolation and cultural integrity.
Despite legal safeguards like the Andaman & Nicobar (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956 and Forest Rights Act, 2006, forest rights have not been fully recognized.
The Tribal Council has alleged manipulation in the approval process and withdrawn its consent — indicating violation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles.

Legal Perspective – The Niyamgiri Precedent

In the Niyamgiri Hills case (2013), the Supreme Court upheld the Gram Sabha’s right to decide whether mining could take place in tribal lands.
It affirmed that forest-dwelling communities are custodians of nature and that their consent is mandatory before land diversion.

Applying this to Great Nicobar, the Gram Sabhas and Tribal Council should hold final authority in approving or rejecting the project. Their exclusion raises legal and ethical questions about procedural justice.

Rights of Nature – A Global Perspective

Several countries have recognized the legal personhood of nature to strengthen conservation:

Ecuador (2008): Nature’s right to exist and regenerate.
Bolivia (2010): “Law of Mother Earth.”
New Zealand (2017): Legal personhood to the Whanganui River.
India (2017): Uttarakhand High Court granted similar rights to the Ganga and Yamuna (later stayed).

Adopting a “Rights of Nature” framework for Great Nicobar could empower local communities and conservation groups as legal guardians of its forests and coasts.

Policy Recommendations

1. Ensure Legal and Procedural Transparency

Re-examine all environmental clearances.
Complete recognition of tribal forest rights under FRA before proceeding.

2. Strengthen Local Participation

Reassess the project through participatory Social Impact Assessments.
Secure genuine consent from affected tribal Gram Sabhas.

3. Redesign the Project

Avoid ecologically sensitive areas.
Adopt low-impact infrastructure and green zoning principles.

4. Institutional and Legal Oversight

Empower NGT, NCST, and MoEFCC to monitor island development.
Create an Island Ecology Authority to appraise and regulate all projects.

5. Legal Guardianship for Ecosystems

Recognize Great Nicobar’s forests and coasts as living ecosystems.
Form a guardianship council including tribal representatives, scientists, and legal experts.

Conclusion

The Great Nicobar Project symbolizes India’s ambition to combine strategic infrastructure and maritime power with island development.
However, its success depends on respecting the island’s ecological fragility, tribal rights, and legal safeguards.