The Great Nicobar Island Development Project: Strategic Ambitions Amid Ecological Concerns

The Great Nicobar Island Project planned by India is under development with an estimated cost of 72,000 crore and is expected to transform the southernmost corner of Andaman and Nicobar island into a strategic centre balanced with developmental demands without undermining the ecology. With the manifestation of transshipment ports, a global airport, electricity plants, and township development, the project spearheaded by NITI Aayog involves infrastructure improvement. But it also brings about issues of environmentally affecting/affected especially to the natives or the endangered ones.

Context

• The Great Nicobar Project seeks to create strategic infrastructure such as ports and airports so that India can have a stronger geopolitical stand. 
• The proposal, however, has been adversely criticized due to environmental harm, threat to local people, indigenous communities, and opaqueness in the decision-making process.

Details:

Project Overview:

• The 72000 crore scheme is aimed at developing major infrastructure like transshipment port, international airport, power plant and township.
• The aim is to utilize the untapped potential of the island and at the same time maintain the bio diversity and ecosystem of the island.
• The development of the project fits within the general regional policy of India, especially, the Act East Policy, as well as dismissing Chinese influence in the Bay of Bengal.

Strategic Significance:

• Geopolitical Position: The geographical closeness of the island to the Malacca strait enhances the Indian ability to influence its commerce and military vitality within the Indo-Pacific region.
• Military and Civil Infrastructure: The scheme will come with dual use infrastructure counting a container terminal, airport, military supplies bases, and surveillance infrastructure.
• Regional Power: The formation is an extension to the Indian security policies in the Indo-Pacific, especially where there is an increased presence of Chinese naval bases.

Ecological Concerns:

• Risk to Indigenous Tribes: The project threatens to Indigenous Tribes, including the Shompen tribe and other indigenous peoples.
• List of Endangered Species: The Nicobar megapode, leatherback turtles and other endangered species are found in the island, in danger of extinction because of deforestation and coastal development.
• Ecological Impact: There is a threat to coral reefs and tropical rainforests and concerns have been raised as regards to long term impact of the activity on the environment.

Transparency and Accountability

• Transparency Deficit: The national security has been used as an excuse in keeping environmental reports hidden by the government and this has been viewed as a deficit in transparency.
• Parliamentary oversight: Concerns raised in the Rajya Sabha about environment impact assessments have been quashed in the name of sub judice leaving no space in parliamentary oversight.

Legal and Eco-Environmental Red Flags:

• An order was issued by the National Green Tribunal to review approval details of environment clearances but the report of the committee with High Power is still classified and there arises a question on accountability.

Way Forward:

• Publish Important Reports: It is imperative that the report of the High-Powered Committee be placed in the public domain bearing in mind appropriate blackouts against the interest of national security.
• Involve Stake holders: Consultation with tribal councils, environmental experts and civil society to make sure that all concerns are discussed thus made institutionalized.
• Increase Oversight: Independently scrutinizing the obedience with laws governing the environment is important and enhancing accountability by institutions and parliamentary delegates has been the most effective method of ensuring that development is not used as a vice against sustainability.

Conclusion

Although the Great Nicobar Island Project is a high strategic interest of India, associated ecological repercussions and effects on native populations should be controlled adequately. An open development process, good stakeholder participation and good monitoring systems would be very necessary so that the development is sustainable and inclusive with a view to meeting the long term interests of India i,e national security and environmental conservation