The Great Nicobar Island Project, initiated by the Narendra Modi government, aims to transform the island into a key maritime and air hub in the Indian Ocean Region. The plan includes a large international container transhipment terminal, a new international airport, a gas and solar power plant, and township development. The project balances strategic importance with environmental and tribal welfare concerns.
Project Overview and Strategic Importance
The project covers 166.10 square kilometres in three phases spanning 2025 to 2047. It includes a container terminal with a capacity of 14.2 million TEU, a greenfield airport, and a 450 MVA power plant using gas and solar energy. Designed as a national and defence asset, it aims to enhance India’s maritime and air connectivity in the region. The project covers about 2% of the total Andaman and Nicobar Islands area.
Environmental Impact and Safeguards
Extensive Environmental Impact Assessments were conducted before approval. Mitigation measures are in place to reduce construction and operational effects. ₹81.55 crore has been allocated for wildlife conservation. Forest diversion is limited to 130.75 sq. km, about 1.82% of the islands’ forest area. Compensatory afforestation will be done outside the islands, mainly in Haryana, due to local land constraints. Green zones covering 65.99 sq. km will remain untouched.
Tribal Welfare and Consultation
The project does not displace the Nicobarese or Shompen tribes. Habitations at New Chingen and Rajiv Nagar remain unaffected. Tribal welfare is overseen by a dedicated committee and involves consultations with the Anthropological Survey of India and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The project complies with the Jarawa Policy (2004) and Shompen Policy (2015), ensuring tribal interests are prioritised. Tribal reserve areas are adjusted to provide a net increase of 3.912 sq. km in protected lands.
Phased Development and Land Use
Phase I (2025-35) covers 72.12 sq. km, Phase II (2036-41) 45.27 sq. km, and Phase III (2042-47) 48.71 sq. km. Out of the total development area, 84.10 sq. km overlaps with tribal reserves, but only 11.032 sq. km has been inhabited since 1972. The rest is being de-notified with compensatory re-notification elsewhere. Land for compensatory afforestation in Haryana totals 97.30 sq. km.
Ecological Studies and Wildlife Protection
Leading institutions such as the Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, and Wildlife Institute of India have conducted detailed studies. The project includes wildlife corridors at eight locations along the eastern coast to allow safe passage for arboreal animals, reptiles, and crabs. These corridors connect forests to the seashore, minimising habitat fragmentation.
Economic and National Security Dimensions
The project is expected to generate employment and boost economic growth while strengthening India’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean. It aligns economic development with environmental conservation and tribal welfare. The development enhances maritime infrastructure critical for national security and global trade connectivity.
Questions for UPSC:
- Discuss in the light of India’s strategic interests the role of infrastructure development in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Critically examine the challenges of balancing economic growth and environmental conservation in large-scale infrastructure projects in ecologically sensitive zones.
- Explain the significance of tribal welfare policies in India. How do these policies impact development projects in tribal regions?
- With suitable examples, discuss the importance of compensatory afforestation and its challenges in forest conservation under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.