About the Great Nicobar Project:
- It is a multi-development initiative aimed at the holistic development of Great Nicobar Island, a strategic location in the southern end of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- It was cleared by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in November 2022 and is part of a broader strategy to enhance India's strategic presence and infrastructure in the region.
- The project is expected to be developed over 30 years in a phased manner.
Key objectives:
- Strategic importance: The project is designed to counter expansionist activities by neighbouring countries, particularly China, and to safeguard India's maritime interests by curbing illegal activities like poaching by the fishers.
- Infrastructure development: The project is valued at ₹72,000 crore and includes key infrastructure such as the development of an international container trans-shipment terminal, a greenfield international airport with dual military-civilian functions, township development, and a 450 MVA power plant (gas and solar-based).
Geographical context:
- Location: Great Nicobar Island is the southernmost island in the Andaman and Nicobar group, separated from the Andaman Islands by the Ten Degree Channel.
- It is also home to Indira Point, India's southernmost point, located less than 150 km from Indonesia.
- Ecosystem: The island features tropical wet evergreen forests, mountain ranges up to 650 meters high, and coastal plains.
- It also houses two national parks and a biosphere reserve, supporting endangered species like the leatherback sea turtle.
Impact on Indigenous Tribes:
- Tribal population: The island is home to the Shompen, a hunter-gatherer tribe, and the Nicobarese. An estimated 237 Shompen and 1,094 Nicobarese live in a tribal reserve covering 751 sq km, of which 84 sq km is proposed to be denotified for the project.
Environmental and seismic considerations:
- Deforestation: Approximately 13,075 hectares of forest land, or about 15% of the island’s area, is slated for diversion, with nearly 64 lakh trees expected to be felled.
- Seismic risks: The region is seismically active, having experienced a major earthquake (9.2 on the Richter scale) in 2004.
- Experts suggest a similar event may not occur for another 400-750 years, though smaller quakes are anticipated.
- The project will adhere to the National Building Code for earthquake-resistant structures.
