Why in the News?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has raised concerns over environmental safeguards in the ₹81,000-crore Great Nicobar mega project. The project has drawn attention due to large-scale forest diversion and its strategic significance as a proposed economic and defence hub.

What is the Great Nicobar Island Development Project?

1. Mega Infrastructure Project: Envisions integrated development of Great Nicobar Island as a strategic economic and defence hub at India’s southernmost tip.
2. Project Cost: Estimated investment of about ₹81,000 crore aimed at long-term maritime and regional development.
3. Core Components: Includes a transshipment port at Galathea Bay, a dual-use international airport, a greenfield township, and power infrastructure.
4. Strategic Objective: Strengthens India’s maritime presence near major Indo-Pacific shipping routes and supports blue economy goals.
5. Scale of Development: Covers nearly 166 sq km area involving land reclamation and major infrastructure expansion.
6. Institutional Framework: Implemented through island development planning with environmental clearances subject to regulatory review.

How does the Great Nicobar project reshape India’s strategic and maritime governance priorities?

1. Strategic Location: Strengthens India’s maritime presence near the Malacca Strait, a key global shipping lane; positions India in Indo-Pacific logistics competition.
2. Transshipment Capacity: Facilitates cargo transfer from large to smaller vessels; reduces dependence on foreign ports such as Singapore and Colombo.
3. Defence Integration: Supports dual-use infrastructure with a military-civilian airport near INS Baaz, ensuring enhanced regional surveillance capability.
4. Economic Hub Objective: Promotes integrated development through shipping, logistics and energy infrastructure to strengthen blue economy outcomes.
5. Example: Proposed transshipment port at Galathea Bay designed for large-scale maritime trade handling.

What governance challenges arise from large-scale development in ecologically fragile island ecosystems?

1. Forest Diversion: Involves diversion of approximately 130 sq km of forest land from a 910 sq km island ecosystem.
2. Deforestation Scale: Requires felling of nearly one million trees, raising compliance concerns under environmental clearance norms.
3. Land Reclamation: Includes reclamation of around 166 sq km project area for infrastructure expansion.
4. Institutional Oversight: Raises questions on adequacy of environmental impact assessments and monitoring frameworks.
5. Example: Expansion activities around Galathea Bay intersect with ecologically sensitive zones.

How does the project test environmental regulatory institutions and accountability mechanisms?

1. Regulatory Scrutiny: NGT intervention strengthens judicial review of environmental decision-making processes.
2. Clearance Process: Examines whether cumulative ecological impacts were fully assessed before approval.
3. Precautionary Principle: Tests application of environmental jurisprudence balancing development and ecological risk.
4. Administrative Accountability: Requires periodic compliance reporting and transparent monitoring frameworks.
5. Example: NGT observations questioning safeguards indicate institutional check on executive decisions.

What are the ecological and biodiversity implications of the proposed development?

1. Biodiversity Loss: Threatens habitat of endemic species including Nicobar megapode and other island fauna.
2. Protected Areas Impact: Project proximity to biosphere reserve and national parks intensifies conservation concerns.
3. Ecosystem Fragility: Mixed evergreen forests and coastal ecosystems face fragmentation risk.
4. Marine Ecology: Port development affects nesting sites and coastal biodiversity patterns.
5. Example: Galathea Bay identified as ecologically sensitive with species nesting grounds.

How does the project raise questions about social justice and indigenous rights governance?

1. Indigenous Communities: Potential implications for vulnerable tribal groups residing in island regions.
2. Livelihood Disruption: Infrastructure expansion may alter traditional ecological dependence and local settlements.
3. Consultative Governance: Tests adequacy of consent and participatory decision-making mechanisms.
4. Development vs Rights: Balances national strategic goals with constitutional protections for tribal communities.
5. Example: Concerns raised regarding impacts on indigenous settlements in project vicinity.

What economic and infrastructure outcomes are expected, and what risks remain?

1. Infrastructure Integration: Ensures integrated development through airport, port, township and power plant.
2. Logistics Efficiency: Promotes India’s emergence as a regional shipping hub.
3. Investment Scale: ₹81,000 crore investment indicates long-term economic planning.
4. Implementation Risk: High ecological and regulatory costs may delay or reshape execution timelines.
5. Example: Planned airport area approximately 8.45 sq km and transshipment port around 7.66 sq km.

Conclusion

The Great Nicobar mega project represents a critical governance test where strategic economic ambitions intersect with ecological fragility and constitutional environmental commitments. Its long-term success will depend not merely on infrastructure delivery but on the credibility of regulatory safeguards, ecological accountability and inclusive decision-making mechanisms.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2024] What role do environmental NGOs and activists play in influencing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) outcomes for major projects in India? Cite four examples with all important details.

Linkage: This PYQ is directly relevant as the Great Nicobar Island Development Project has faced scrutiny over the adequacy of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and safeguards. It highlights how environmental activism, regulatory oversight, and institutional accountability influence approval and modification of large infrastructure projects.

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