© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
— Renuka
Unsuitable and unsustainable development projects, like hydro power, railways, hotels and other installations, are among the key factors behind the recent landslides triggered by heavy rain in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal.
Such disasters reignite the long-standing debate over the impact of development on the environment, especially in developing countries like India. Infrastructural projects, one of the building blocks of development, often come under scrutiny of environmentalists. One such project currently under debate is the Great Nicobar Island Project, estimated to cost over 92,000 crore.
Although promising strategic and economic benefits, the Great Nicobar Island Project is questioned on grounds such as the threat it poses to the island’s ecology. Let’s understand the significance of the Great Nicobar Island Project in light of the environment versus development debate.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a cluster of 836 islands, split into two groups — the Andaman Islands to the north and the Nicobar Islands to the south. Great Nicobar, one of the largest islands of the Nicobar, is largely a rainforest with rich biodiversity and is home to the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes as well as numerous endemic and endangered species found in its forests and along its coasts.
The Great Nicobar island is also close to the Malacca Strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, which connects the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.
The Great Nicobar Island Project was launched in 2021 under the Holistic Development of the Island programme. The mega infrastructure project, implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO), is proposed to construct an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport, a “greenfield city”, and a 450 MVA gas and solar power plant.
The ICTT is expected to “allow Great Nicobar to participate in the regional and global maritime economy by becoming a major player in cargo transshipment’’. It aims to position India as a regional maritime hub, and aligns with the Maritime India Vision, 2030, while also reducing India’s dependence on foreign Ports such as Singapore and Colombo for transhipments.
On the other hand, the proposed “greenfield city” will tap into both the maritime and tourism potential of the island. Moreover, the building up of a strong military deterrence at Great Nicobar is of vital importance to India’s national security in view of China’s attempts to expand its footprint in the region. Hence, the Great Nicobar Island Project holds both economic and strategic significance for India.
Despite its promises, the Great Nicobar project has also faced criticism due to its high ecological and social costs. One of the key concerns is large-scale deforestation, with around 18 million trees to be cut down. This will permanently disturb the fragile ecological balance of the island. The deforestation is accompanied by a flawed plan of compensatory afforestation, as deforestation in the Nicobar is being compensated for by declaring degraded land in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh as forest land.
Deforestation is closely linked to a threat to biodiversity. The Great Nicobar is a biodiversity hotspot and home to diverse flora and fauna, including 10 endangered species. The project also threatens Galathea Bay, one of the world’s most important sites for leatherback sea turtles, and coral-rice coastlines. Also, the Nicobar megapode, listed as “vulnerable to extinction” under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, is found only in the Nicobar.
This ecological loss is closely linked to the situation of the Shopmen and Nicobarese tribes, both classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). These tribes are dependent upon the forest ecosystem for their food, shelter and cultural identity. Project-induced displacement will dismantle this fragile socio-ecological balance.
Furthermore, the project also has geological and climatic concerns. The island lies in a seismically active zone, prone to earthquakes and Tsunamis as seen in 2004. Heavy rainfall, coastal erosion, and rising sea levels due to climate change further heightened the island’s geological and climatic vulnerability. Overall, the concerns highlight the delicate balance required between development imperatives and ecological responsibilities.
The government has positioned the Great Nicobar project as a model for combining economic growth and strategic development. It has emphasised that the project has been planned with careful consideration of environmental and social concerns. For this, an Environmental Impact assessment has been conducted to evaluate possible risks and to propose measures to minimise ecological damage.
The institutions, such as the Indian Institute of Technology, the National Institute of Ocean Technology, have been consulted to ensure scientific credibility. Also, out of the island’s vast area, only 166 square kilometers have been allocated for the project. For this, a few villages may be relocated.
In response to the concerns about forest loss, a compensatory afforestation plan has been adopted. This involves planting trees in the Aravali Mountain range, one of India’s oldest and most degraded mountain ranges, with the aim of restoring its ecological balance.
The government has also announced conservation measures for the species like Nicobar megapode, saltwater crocodiles and coral reef systems, which are more vulnerable to the impact of projects. However, critics argue that the efforts are half-hearted and are not based on scientific studies.
To sum up, Great Nicobar is one of the most significant environmental treasures India has. Its tropical evergreen forest acts as a carbon sink and supports diverse flora and fauna. Building large-scale infrastructure on this island requires taking ecological concerns into consideration through careful, participatory, and science-based approaches. For this, a few measures would perhaps be helpful, including:
— Ensuring the participation of the local tribes in the project implementation.
— Giving due consideration to their ecological knowledge, while ensuring respect for local cultural and ecological sensitivities.
— Experts and scientists monitor project execution at every stage, and assess its impact on forests, wildlife and tribal welfare.
— The compensatory afforestation scheme avoids monoculture planting and focuses on reviving the native forest ecosystem.
— The town planning and infrastructure growth must also be based on the Climate Vulnerability Assessment.
— Ensuring that the post-project environmental monitoring assess the actual effectiveness of mitigation measures suggested while granting environmental clearance to the project.
By incorporating such safeguards and scientific planning, the Great Nicobar Island Project could yield the desired benefits while also preserving the ecological and cultural heritage of the island.
Evaluate the economic and strategic significance of the Great Nicobar Island Project for India?
How is the potential ecological loss caused by the Great Nicobar Island Project closely linked to the situation of the Shopmen and Nicobarese tribes, both classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)?
The Great Nicobar Island Project raises various concerns, including geological and climatic. How do such concerns highlight the delicate balance required between development imperatives and ecological responsibilities? What could be the possible way forward?
Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India. Comment.
(Renuka is a Doctoral researcher at Himachal Pradesh National law university, Shimla.)
Share your thoughts and ideas on UPSC Special articles with ashiya.parveen@indianexpress.com.
Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.
Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
