Mains Daily Question
Nov. 22, 2022

The Development of the Great Nicobar Islands has its own strategic importance for India but comes with plenty of ecological concerns. Do you agree? (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Model Answer

Approach:

  • Introduce the answer by stating the recently sanctioned fund for the development of the Great Nicobar Island.
  • The body of the answer can be divided into two major parts- first to address the strategic importance of the island in the context of consolidation of the Indian Ocean region and second to chart out the issues related to the development of the Pristine area.
  • Conclude the answer with a balanced approach of how the project will help India in long run.

Answer:

The recently launched prestigious project of holistic development of Great Nicobar Island (GNI) which aims to establish a Greenfield International Airport, an International Container Transhipment Terminal, a Township and a Power plant in Great Nicobar Island will transform the Island into a hub of port-led development.

The GNI is a biosphere reserve and was included in the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme in 2013.

Strategic Importance:

The Indian Ocean Region in general and the Indian Ocean in particular has turned into a strategic hotspot in recent years with the rising importance of the Indo-pacific region, rising China and the need for strengthened naval forces for military and economic regions. In this scenario, critical development of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is necessary for strengthening India's regional presence.

The Great Nicobar Island also represents a significant economic development opportunity as the main east-west shipping route that links east Asian exports with the Indian Ocean, Suez Canal and Europe runs just to the south of this Island.

Ecological challenges: 

The GNI are home to the indigenous Shompen tribe, besides rare flora and fauna from the Nicobar megapode, leatherback turtles, the endemic Nicobar Macaque and saltwater crocodiles. 30 of the 51 active nests of the Nicobar megapod the keystone species of Nicobar Island will be permanently destroyed. It will also involve the felling of over 8.5 lakh trees, loss of 12-20 hectares of mangrove cover, claiming 298 hectares of the seabed and considerable coral translocation.

The GNI project has been conceived based on the principles of Sustainable Development wherein the ecological, economic and social factors have been given due consideration at every stage. The project will not only ensure a significant presence of the country in the Malacca Strait but also enhance socio-economic growth and usher in a new era for all-round development of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Great Nicobar Island in particular.

Subjects : Current Affairs
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