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Why in News:
- The project has faced renewed protests from the Nicobar Tribal Council over alleged pressure to surrender ancestral land, raising fresh legal and environmental concerns regarding the ₹72,000-crore initiative.
Key Features and Strategic Importance
- Project Components: The “Holistic Development” plan includes four integrated projects:
- International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Galathea Bay.
- Greenfield International Airport (dual use for civilian and military).
- Power Plant (450 MVA Gas and Solar based).
- Greenfield Township to support the infrastructure.
- Implementing Agency: The project is being executed by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).
- Strategic Location: Great Nicobar is located near the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The project aims to counter China’s regional presence and capture transshipment cargo currently handled by Colombo and Singapore.
- Ecological Impact: The project site at Galathea Bay is a globally significant nesting ground for the Giant Leatherback Turtle. To facilitate the port, the Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was denotified (removed from protected status).
- Tribal Concerns: The island is home to the Shompen (a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group or PVTG) and the Nicobarese tribes. Critics argue the project violates their rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and threatens their survival.
- Compensatory Afforestation: A unique and controversial aspect is that the loss of tropical rainforests here will be “compensated” by planting trees in the semi-arid state of Haryana, thousands of kilometers away.
- Seismic Vulnerability: The island lies in Seismic Zone V (highest risk) and is close to the “Ring of Fire.” The coastline notably subsided (sank) during the 2004 Tsunami, raising fears about the safety of massive infrastructure.
