Great Nicobar Island — Strategic, Ecological and Developmental Significance

• The Great Nicobar Island is India’s southernmost and largest island, forming an integral part of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• It holds immense strategic and ecological importance for India’s maritime boundaries.
• Recently, the proposed Great Nicobar Island Development Project (GNI Project) has triggered widespread debate concerning environmental sustainability, national security, and tribal rights.

Geographical Overview

Geographical and Ecological Features

• Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2013.
• Covered with dense tropical rainforests, rich in biodiversity.
• Major species found:
  • Nicobar Megapode (Nicobari pigeon)
  • Saltwater crocodiles and Dugongs (Sea Cow)
  • Loggerhead and Green turtles
• The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve is divided into:
  • Core Zone: 885 sq. km
  • Buffer Zone: 705 sq. km

Population and Tribal Composition

• Both tribes are classified as Scheduled Tribes and protected under the Andaman & Nicobar (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956.

Strategic Importance

1. Geographical Advantage:
   • Located ~160 km from the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
   • Around 40% of global oil trade passes through this region.
2. Naval and Surveillance Base:
   • INS Baaz, established in 2012, is India’s southernmost naval air station.
   • Enhances India’s Indo-Pacific maritime surveillance capabilities.
   • Serves as a countermeasure to China’s “String of Pearls” strategy.
3. Blue Economy & Maritime Security:
   • Integral to India’s Act East Policy and Sagarmala Vision.
   • Potential to strengthen India’s presence in ASEAN and Indo-Pacific partnerships.

Great Nicobar Island Development Project (GNI Project)

• Proposed by: NITI Aayog, aligned with Vision 2036
  
• Estimated Cost: ₹72,000 crore

Major Components:

1. International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT):
   • Capacity: 14.2 million TEU
2. Greenfield Airport:
   • Dual-use (civil and defense)
3. Power Plant & Smart City:
   • Spread over ~130 sq. km
4. Eco-tourism & Deep-Sea Port Hub

Objectives:

• To transform India into a global maritime trade hub.
• To reduce dependence on transshipment hubs like Singapore and Colombo.

Environmental and Social Concerns

Environmental Impact

• Possible destruction of ~130 sq. km of forest area.
• Threat to seasonal water balance and coastal ecology.
• Likely damage to turtle nesting grounds and marine ecosystems.
• Located in Seismic Zone V, prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

Tribal Impact

• Threat to the survival and livelihood of Shompen and Nicobarese tribes.
• Influx of outsiders may lead to cultural erosion, disease spread, and displacement.

Legal Challenges

• In 2023, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) granted conditional clearance, mandating Compensatory Afforestation and a Biodiversity Impact Assessment.
• Environmentalists argue the project could trigger an ecological disaster rather than an economic boon.

Government’s Stand

• The project adheres to the principles of Sustainable Development.
• No-Go Zones to be established in tribal and ecologically sensitive areas.
• Promises of employment generation, infrastructure improvement, and national security enhancement.
• Use of Green Technology and Renewable Energy sources.

Analytical Overview

Conclusion

The Great Nicobar Island is a region of immense strategic value, ecological sensitivity, and unique cultural heritage. India must strike a fine balance between development, ecology, and indigenous protection. Sustainable development here must mean growth with responsibility — safeguarding nature, culture, and national security alike.

“Great Nicobar is not just an island — it is a test of India’s maritime self-reliance and ecological wisdom.”