THE CONTEXT: The proposed Rs 72,000-crore infrastructure upgrade at Great Nicobar Island has sparked significant controversy, with the Congress party describing it as a “grave threat” to the island’s indigenous inhabitants and fragile ecosystem. The project, which includes an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport, a township, and a gas and solar-based power plant, aims to leverage the island’s strategic location near the Malacca Strait. However, it has faced sustained criticism from conservationists, wildlife biologists, naturalists, and local tribal councils.
THE ISSUES:
Strategic Importance: The project aims to leverage Great Nicobar’s strategic location near the Malacca Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint, to enhance India’s maritime security and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The development includes an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), an international airport, a township, and a power plant.
Environmental Concerns: The project poses significant threats to the island’s fragile ecosystem, including the felling of nearly a million trees, destruction of coral reefs, and disruption of habitats for endangered species like the Nicobar Megapode bird and leatherback turtles. The area is also seismically volatile, having experienced significant subsidence during the 2004 tsunami.
Impact on Indigenous Communities: The project threatens the livelihoods and cultural heritage of the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes, who inhabit the island. The project has been criticized for violating the rights of these indigenous populations and for not adequately consulting the Tribal Council as required by law.
Legal and Procedural Issues: The project’s approval process has been criticized for procedural lapses and legal violations, including the denotification of tribal reserve areas without proper justification and consultation. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) has also been criticized for inaccuracies and incomplete information.
Political and Social Opposition: The Congress party and various civil society groups have demanded the suspension of all clearances and a thorough review of the project, citing its potential adverse impacts on the environment and indigenous communities. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also ordered a high-power committee to revisit the environmental clearances.
Economic and Feasibility Concerns: Given the island’s remote location, ecological sensitivity, and seismic instability, questions have been raised about the project’s feasibility and sustainability. Critics argue that the project’s economic benefits do not justify the environmental and social costs.
THE WAY FORWARD:
Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Conduct a thorough and scientifically rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that includes input from independent environmental experts, local communities, and international conservation organizations. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has already ordered the formation of a high-power committee to review the clearances. This committee should include representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and independent environmental experts.
Protection of Indigenous Rights: Adhere to the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, to ensure that the rights of the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes are fully protected. Anthropologists and social scientists have highlighted the need for genuine consultation with the tribal communities and adherence to legal safeguards.
Sustainable Development Practices: Adopt sustainable development practices that minimize environmental impact, such as eco-friendly construction methods, renewable energy sources, and biodiversity conservation. Environmentalists have suggested using renewable energy sources like solar and wind power instead of gas-based power plants to reduce carbon footprint. The development of Masdar City in the UAE, which focuses on sustainability and minimal environmental impact, can serve as an inspiration.
Strategic and Balanced Development: Limit the scale of development and focus on essential infrastructure to balance strategic military and economic interests with environmental conservation and social equity. Great Nicobar Island’s strategic location necessitates some level of development for national security. However, this should be balanced with environmental and social considerations. The phased development approach used in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including military upgrades and conservation efforts, can be applied here.
Transparent and Inclusive Decision-Making: Involving all stakeholders, including local communities, environmentalists, and independent experts, will ensure transparency and inclusivity in the decision-making process. The Congress party has called for a thorough, impartial review of the project by relevant Parliamentary committees, which should include public hearings and consultations with all stakeholders. The public consultation process used in developing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notifications in India, which involved multiple rounds of stakeholder engagement, can be a model for this project.
THE CONCLUSION:
While strategically significant for India’s maritime security, the Great Nicobar Island project has raised serious environmental and social concerns. The potential impact on the island’s biodiversity, the rights of indigenous communities, and the ecological balance has led to calls for an immediate suspension of all clearances and a thorough, impartial review. The ongoing debate underscores the need to balance development with ecological preservation and respect for indigenous rights.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTIONS:
Q.1 Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion in India. What are the available coastal management techniques for combating the hazard? 2022
Q.2 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one meter by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region? 2023
Q.3 What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organizational, technical, and procedural initiatives to improve maritime security. 2022
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q.1 The proposed infrastructure upgrade at Great Nicobar Island has been described as a “grave threat” to the island’s indigenous inhabitants and fragile ecosystem. Discuss the project’s strategic importance for India and the environmental and social concerns it raises. Suggest measures to balance development with ecological and social sustainability.
SOURCE:
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/great-nicobar-project-concern-9400418/
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