What Is the Great Nicobar Project and Why Is It So Controversial?| Explained

A ₹92,000 crore Greenfield project by NITI Aayog, the Great Nicobar Island Project aims to boost India’s strategic and economic presence in the Indo-Pacific — but faces criticism for its ecological, tribal, and environmental impact.

Where is Great Nicobar Island and why is it important?

• Great Nicobar Island (GNI) is the southernmost island of India, part of the Nicobar group in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory.

• It lies close to the Malacca Strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, through which about one-third of global sea trade passes.

• It is also located near the Sunda Strait, Lombok Strait, and Coco Islands, which are important strategic choke points in the Indo-Pacific region.

• The island covers about 910 square kilometers and is largely covered by tropical evergreen rainforests that host rich biodiversity.

• It is home to two Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) — the Shompen and the Nicobarese, who depend on forests and coastal ecosystems for their survival.

• Because of its geostrategic location, Great Nicobar plays a crucial role in India’s maritime security, trade, and regional influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

What is the Great Nicobar Island Project?

• The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project is a large-scale ₹92,000 crore Greenfield infrastructure project conceived by NITI Aayog.

  • Greenfield means the project is being developed entirely from scratch, not by upgrading existing facilities.

• It received Union Cabinet approval in 2021 and is part of the government’s Holistic Development of Islands Programme, aimed at combining strategic, economic, and regional development.

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) is the nodal agency for implementation.

  • ANIIDCO, established in 1988 under the Companies Act, 1956, is a government-owned corporation responsible for the island’s development.

• The project seeks to transform Great Nicobar into a hub for trade, transport, tourism, and defense while maintaining strategic connectivity with mainland India and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

What are the main components of the project?

The project has four major infrastructure components:

1. International Transshipment Port (ITP) at Galathea Bay — to be developed as a deep-sea port for large container ships, reducing India’s reliance on Singapore and Colombo for cargo handling.

2. Greenfield International Airport — to enhance connectivity between Great Nicobar, the mainland, and global destinations.

3. 450 MW Power Plant — using gas and solar energy to ensure stable and sustainable power supply.

4. Modern Township (Greenfield City) — to provide residential, commercial, and tourism facilities for residents, defense personnel, and port workers.

• The total project area covers 166 square kilometers, to be developed in phases to reduce environmental stress.

• Scientific and environmental studies are being carried out by institutions like IITs and the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).

Why is the Great Nicobar Project strategically important for India?

• Great Nicobar lies at the entrance of the Malacca Strait, a maritime route through which a large portion of India’s and global trade passes.

• By developing a deep-water transshipment port, India can handle international cargo domestically.

  • Currently, about 75% of India’s transshipped cargo is managed at foreign ports such as Singapore and Colombo.

• The island’s strategic location strengthens India’s role in the Indo-Pacific, especially under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Blue Economy strategy.

• The development will enhance defense capabilities by allowing India to station naval vessels, aircraft, and drones closer to critical sea lanes.

• The project also supports the tri-services command in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, boosting India’s maritime surveillance and deterrence capacity.

• Improved connectivity, tourism, and trade will also bring economic benefits and employment opportunities for the region.

What are the major environmental concerns associated with the project?

• The project involves massive deforestation and large-scale ecological alteration.

  • Approximately 9.6 lakh trees are officially planned to be cut down, while environmental groups estimate this number could reach 18 million.

• Over 85% of the island is still covered in tropical rainforest, one of India’s richest biodiversity zones.

• Galathea Bay, the port site, is a protected wetland under the Ramsar Convention and the most important nesting site in India for the endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle.

• The project threatens several endemic and endangered species, including:

  • The Leatherback Sea Turtle, Nicobar Megapode (Vulnerable under IUCN Red List), saltwater crocodiles, and coral reef species.

• The dredging of millions of cubic meters of seabed will damage coral reefs and seagrass meadows, affecting marine biodiversity.

• Loss of forests will reduce the island’s carbon sequestration capacity, disrupt rainfall patterns, and cause soil erosion.

• Mangrove belts, which act as natural buffers against tsunamis and storms, may be cleared, increasing disaster vulnerability.

What are the issues with the compensatory afforestation plan?

• To offset forest loss, the government plans compensatory afforestation on degraded lands in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

  • This includes reforestation across the Aravalli mountain range, one of India’s most degraded ecosystems.

• Environmentalists criticize the plan because dryland plantations in North India cannot replace tropical rainforests in biodiversity or ecological function.

• The ecological loss from cutting dense rainforests in Great Nicobar cannot be compensated by planting trees in ecologically different regions.

  Hence, the afforestation plan is viewed as administrative compliance, not real ecological restoration.

How will the project affect tribal communities of Great Nicobar?

• Great Nicobar is home to two Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) — the Shompen and the Nicobarese.

• These tribes rely on the forest for food, shelter, medicine, and cultural practices.

• The influx of migrant workers and settlers could lead to displacement and disease exposure, especially for the Shompen, who have low immunity to infectious diseases.

• The project may lead to the loss of traditional territories and erosion of tribal culture and knowledge systems.

• The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs received complaints that forest rights were not recognized under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006) before land diversion.

• The Andaman administration claims it is not bound by the FRA since Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act (PAT), 1956) already safeguards tribal interests.

  • However, PAT, 1956 gives the administration unilateral power to divert forest land, while FRA, 2006 requires Gram Sabha consent, highlighting a legal and ethical conflict.

• The Tribal Councils established under the 2009 Regulation have only advisory powers, unlike Sixth Schedule Autonomous Councils in Northeast India, which enjoy legislative and executive powers.

• This limited tribal participation raises concerns over inclusion, consent, and representation in project decision-making.

What are the geological and disaster-related risks?

• Great Nicobar lies in a highly seismic zone, sitting atop the megathrust fault line responsible for the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

• The region frequently experiences earthquakes, coastal erosion, and landslides.

• Climate change and rising sea levels add to the island’s vulnerability.

• Clearing mangrove belts and coastal vegetation will reduce natural defenses against tsunamis and cyclones, amplifying potential disaster impacts.

What steps has the government taken to address these concerns?

• The government claims that the project includes scientific, environmental, and social safeguards.

• A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted, with the involvement of IITs and the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).

• Only 166 sq km of the island is designated for development, keeping the remaining area under forest protection.

• Specific conservation plans have been designed for the Leatherback Turtle, Nicobar Megapode, Saltwater Crocodiles, and coral reef ecosystems.

• Compensatory afforestation has been proposed in the Aravalli Range to restore degraded ecosystems.

• However, environmentalists argue that these steps are inadequate, poorly monitored, and not based on comprehensive scientific data.

• Experts caution that the ecological and social costs may outweigh the potential economic gains.

What is the broader environment vs development debate linked to this project?

• The Great Nicobar Project highlights the ongoing debate between economic development and environmental conservation in India.

• Similar challenges have been seen in other regions such as Darjeeling and Kalimpong, where unsustainable hydro, railway, and hotel projects triggered landslides after heavy rains.

• While development projects are crucial for progress, they must be environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.

• In developing nations like India, such projects test the government’s ability to balance growth with ecological preservation.

  
  

What measures can ensure balanced and sustainable development?

• Experts recommend adopting a phased, science-based, and community-inclusive approach:

  • Ensure active participation of local tribal communities in planning and monitoring.

  • Integrate traditional ecological knowledge with modern environmental science.

  • Conduct independent expert monitoring of the project’s environmental and social impacts.

  • Focus compensatory afforestation on restoring native forest ecosystems, not monocultures.

  • Include climate vulnerability assessments in infrastructure planning.o Carry out post-project environmental audits to verify mitigation effectiveness.

The Great Nicobar Island Project has the potential to boost India’s strategic influence, maritime trade, and economic growth. However, its success depends on how well India can balance developmental goals with environmental conservation, tribal rights, and disaster safety.

Adopting an ecologically sensitive, transparent, and inclusive model will ensure that Great Nicobar’s development strengthens both national security and natural heritage. If executed responsibly, it can become a global model for sustainable island development, demonstrating that economic growth and ecological preservation can progress together.

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