Editorial 2: The critic is at sea
Context: government has proposed a Rs.81, 000 crores mega development project in Great Nicobar island conceived by NITI Aayog and implemented by Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation. It has generated environmental concerns from environmentalists, activists and opposition leaders.
About the mega development project:
- Great Nicobar is the largest of all the islands in the Nicobar Islands. Campbell bay and Indira point are the famous tourist places.
- Indira point is the southernmost point of India located just 145 km from the Aceh province of Indonesia.
- The proposed development project is expected to come up in southernmost part of Nicobar Islands.
- It will include an international container terminal, international Greenfield airport, solar plant and two Greenfield cities.
- It has the potential to compete with port cities such as Singapore.
Importance of this project:
- India depends heavily on Indian Ocean for its development security needs. About 80 % of its external trade and 100% of energy imports happen through this region.
- Indian Ocean Region has emerged as the most influential sea route for international trade and connectivity. It has also become the area of power contest between global powers such as US and China. It is home to some of the world’s most populous countries and fastest growing economies.
- India is majorly a peninsular country and depends heavily on Indian Ocean for its trade and economic traffic. Development of this area becomes precondition for achieving the economic, military and energy security.
- Indian Ocean Region sees the movement of vessels from almost all the major countries crisscrossing its waters.
- Next generation underwater sea cables are crucial for the internet connectivity of the region.
- India is also expected to face maritime security challenges from other nations, piracy, sea borne terrorism, climate challenges, human trafficking, illegal and unregulated fishing, and humanitarian situations like evacuations, disaster management.
- There are security hotspots such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The region also has maritime choke points such as the Strait of Hormuz, Malacca Strait, and Sunda Strait.
- Developing maritime infrastructure is critical to India’s security and development.
Concern associated with the Project:
- Large swathes of primary tropical rainforest will be cleared—estimates vary, but 130 km² of forest land is to be diverted; up to 8–10 lakh (or more) trees to be felled.
- Mangrove belts that act as natural shields against storm surges, cyclones, and tsunamis could be destroyed or degraded.
- The Shompen and Nicobarese tribes (especially the Shompen, considered a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, PVTG) may lose access to traditional lands, resources, and customary ways of life.
- Some protected areas or sanctuaries (e.g. Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary) which have been denotified or impacted.
Measures taken by government:
- The government has involved government agencies and academic institutions such as IIT, NIOT, NCCR and NIO for the Environmental impact Assessment (EIA).
- The area of 166square km has been allocated for the project.
- Development plans are being executed for the villages that will be relocated for the project.
- Government has not disturbed the tribal habitats.
- For the trees being cut, Compensatory Afforestation will be carried out in the degraded Aravali mountain range ecosystem.
- New conservation plans are prepared for the Nicobar megapodes, crocodiles, and coral reefs.
Way Forward:
The Nicobar project must strike a balance between strategic objectives and ecological sensitivity. Sustainable development, along with environmental safeguards and community participation, is the key for long-term national and local benefits.