Context
The Union government is moving forward with a ₹92,000-crore mega-infrastructure project on Great Nicobar Island. Recently, a draft “Comprehensive Tribal Welfare Plan” (with a ₹42.52-crore outlay) was circulated to outline the relocation of Nicobarese tribal communities. This has triggered fresh concerns regarding tribal consent, forest rights, and the displacement of indigenous groups.
1. Key Tribal Groups Involved
- Nicobarese: A scheduled tribe primarily affected by the 2004 tsunami and now by the proposed infrastructure project. They are traditionally settled along the coasts.
- Shompen: A Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). They are hunter-gatherers living in the interior forests of Great Nicobar.
- Legal Protections: The project is under scrutiny for potential violations of the Forest Rights Act (2006) and the requirement of “Informed Consent” from the Tribal Councils.
2. Components of the Project
- The integrated project is designed to transform the island into a major hub through the following developments: International Transshipment Port, International Airport, Power Plant, Greenfield Township.
- Promoting Body: NITI Aayog
- Implementing Agency: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO)
- ANIIDCO was incorporated on 28th June 1988 under the Companies Act 1956 for rapid economic growth of the Islands.
- Operates under: Ministry of Home Affairs
3. The Relocation Controversy
- Ambiguity in the Draft: The government claims the project will not “disturb or displace” tribes, yet the draft plan specifically uses the term “relocation” for 62 enumerated families (approx. 218 persons).
- Ancestral Lands: Tribal leaders are demanding a return to ancestral sites like Pulobhabi on the west coast, which were lost during the tsunami.
- Consent Issues: The Tribal Council withdrew its previous consent in 2022, alleging that forest rights were not settled. The Calcutta High Court is currently hearing petitions regarding whether “genuine consent” was obtained.
4. About Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI)
ANI is a UT with 572 islands (Bay of Bengal), of which 38 are inhabited.
- Comprises two groups: Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands, divided by the 10° Channel.
Duncan Passage separates Little Andaman from South Andaman.
- Closer to equator: Located between 6° to 14°
- Separated from Thailand and Myanmar by the Andaman Sea.
- Island chain is a submerged extension of the Arakan Mountains.
- Dugong (sea mammal) is the official animal, endemic to the Indo-Pacific coast, especially Andaman.
- In 2018, three islands were renamed to honour Subhas Chandra Bose:
- Ross → Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island
- Neil → Shaheed Island
- Havelock → Swaraj Island
- In September 2024, the capital of the ANI (Port Blair) was renamed Sri Vijaya Puram.
5. PVTGs in Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI)
- ANI has five PVTGs: Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese, and Shompen.
- They are geographically isolated, depend on hunter-gathering or simple horticulture, have very small populations, and are highly vulnerable.
- Recently, members of the Shompen tribe voted for the first time in the ANI Lok Sabha constituency.
6. Hotspot Status and biodiversity:
- Nicobar fall under the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot.
- Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve: It covers 885 km² across Campbell Bay and Galathea National Parks (core zone).
Consider the following statements with reference to the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project:
1. The Great Nicobar Project, initiated by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, aims to leverage the island’s strategic location near the Malacca Strait.
2. The core components of the GNI Project include; an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a dual-use military civilian airbase, and a mega solar–gas hybrid power plant.
3. Galathea Bay, included in the project region, is a nesting site of the Leatherback turtle.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Answer: C
Explanation:
• The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Development project, officially named the "Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island," is a massive infrastructure plan spearheaded by NITI Aayog and executed by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO). So, statement 1 is not correct.
• The Great Nicobar Island Development Project includes an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport, two greenfield cities, a coastal mass rapid transit system, and a free trade zone. So, statement 2 is correct.
• Key concerns: Great Nicobar, over 85% rainforest-covered, is a biodiversity hotspot; Galathea Bay, a Ramsar wetland, is a key nesting site for endangered Leatherback turtles. So, statement 3 is correct.
