Central Idea

• The ₹70,000 crore Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island project raises concerns about its ecological impact and the Union government’s hasty clearances, while its feasibility and sustainability remain questionable.

What is Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island project is all about?

• The Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island project is a major infrastructure development initiative launched by the Indian government in 2020.
• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has cleared the way for the ‘Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island project.
• The project aims to transform the Great Nicobar Island, the largest island in the Nicobar group of islands in the Bay of Bengal, into a modern, sustainable, and self-sufficient territory.
• The project includes an international transhipment port, an international airport, a gas and solar-based power plant, and an ecotourism and residential township.

Environmental and Ecological Concerns

1. Quick Clearances and Exemptions: The project’s quick approvals, clearances, exemptions, and de-notifications indicate the Union government’s keenness to implement it.
2. Urbanization and Biodiversity: The project is expected to attract a population equal to the entire island chain, with potential negative impacts on the region’s marine and terrestrial biodiversity.
3. Biosphere Reserve and Tribal Reserves: The island was declared a biosphere reserve in 1989 and is home to vulnerable tribal communities, such as the Nicobarese and Shompen.

Feasibility and Sustainability Issues

1. Hinterland Economic Activities: A successful transhipment hub requires viable hinterland economic activities, which may be wishful thinking in Great Nicobar.
2. Afforestation and Coral Reef Translocation: The far-field afforestation recommendation and coral reef translocation are questionable compensation methods.
3. Tectonic Instability: Great Nicobar Island’s proximity to the Ring of Fire and its history of earthquakes raise concerns about the feasibility of developing an urban port city.

Facts for Prelims: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI)

• Location: Located between 6° and 14° North Latitude and 92° and 94° East Longitude lie the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory in India.
• Two groups of Island: It consists of two groups of islands. The islands located north of 10° north latitude are known as Andaman while islands located south of 10° north latitude are called Nicobar.
• The Andamans: More than 300 islands make up the Andamans. North, Middle, and South Andaman, known collectively as Great Andaman, are the main islands;
• The 10- degree channel: The 10-degree channel which is about 145 km long separates Little Andaman in the south from the Nicobar Islands.
• The Nicobars: The Nicobars consists of 19 islands. Among the most prominent is Car Nicobar in the north; and Great Nicobar in the south. About 90 miles to the southwest of Great Nicobar lies the northwestern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia.
• Formation: Both the Andaman and Nicobar groups are formed by the above-sea extensions of submarine ridges of mountains and are a part of a great island arc. The highest peak is 2,418 feet at Saddle Peak on North Andaman, followed by Mount Thullier at 2,106 feet on Great Nicobar and Mount Harriet at 1,197 feet on South Andaman. Barren island, the only known active Volcano in south Asia lies in the Andaman Sea. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there were volcanic eruptions on Barren Island.
• Andaman Terrain: Formed of sandstone, limestone, and shale of Cenozoic age, the terrain of the Andamans is rough, with hills and narrow longitudinal valleys. Flat land is scarce and is confined to a few valleys.
• Nicobar Terrain: The terrain of the Nicobar is more diverse than that of the Andamans. Some of the Nicobar Islands, such as Car Nicobar, have flat coral-covered surfaces with offshore coral formations that prevent most ships from anchoring. Other islands, such as Great Nicobar, are hilly and contain numerous fast-flowing streams.
• Great Nicobar is the only island in the territory with a significant amount of fresh surface water.
• Climate: The climate of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is tropical but is moderated by sea.

Conclusion

• The Great Nicobar Island project’s ecological and environmental costs, along with its questionable feasibility and sustainability, raise concerns about India’s commitment to conservation, sustainability, and green development models. It is crucial that the green developmental model becomes the guiding principle for future economic activities, ensuring that growth does not result in irretrievable loss of natural capital.

Mains Question

Q. Recently Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has cleared the way for the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island project. In this backdrop, discuss environmental and ecological concerns and sustainability issues.

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