Great Nicobar Project

About the Great Nicobar Project:

• The Great Nicobar Project is a multi-development initiative aimed at the holistic development of Great Nicobar Island, a strategic location in the southern end of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It was cleared by the Ministry of Environment in November 2022 and is part of a broader strategy to enhance India's strategic presence and infrastructure in the region.
• The project is expected to be developed over 30 years in a phased manner.

Key objectives:

• Strategic importance: The project is designed to counter expansionist activities by neighbouring countries, particularly China, and to safeguard India's maritime interests by curbing illegal activities like poaching by Myanmarese fishers.
• Infrastructure development: The project is valued at ₹72,000 crore and includes key infrastructure such as the development of an international container trans-shipment terminal, a greenfield international airport with dual military-civilian functions, township development, and a 450 MVA power plant (gas and solar-based).

Geographical context:

• Location: Great Nicobar Island is the southernmost island in the Andaman and Nicobar group, separated from the Andaman Islands by the Ten Degree Channel. 
  • It is also home to Indira Point, India's southernmost point, located less than 150 km from Indonesia.
• Ecosystem: The island features tropical wet evergreen forests, mountain ranges up to 650 meters high, and coastal plains. 
  • It also houses two national parks and a biosphere reserve, supporting endangered species like the leatherback sea turtle.

Impact on Indigenous Tribes:

• Tribal population: The island is home to the Shompen, a hunter-gatherer tribe, and the Nicobarese. An estimated 237 Shompen and 1,094 Nicobarese live in a tribal reserve covering 751 sq km, of which 84 sq km is proposed to be denotified for the project.

Environmental and seismic considerations:

• Deforestation: Approximately 13,075 hectares of forest land, or about 15% of the island’s area, is slated for diversion, with nearly 9.64 lakh trees expected to be felled. 
• Seismic risks: The region is seismically active, having experienced a major earthquake (9.2 on the Richter scale) in 2004. 
  • Experts suggest a similar event may not occur for another 400-750 years, though smaller quakes are anticipated. 
  • The project will adhere to the National Building Code for earthquake-resistant structures.

Q1. What is a Coral reef?

A coral reef is a diverse underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. These reefs are formed from the calcium carbonate skeletons of coral polyps, tiny marine animals. Coral reefs are often called the "rainforests of the sea" because of their rich biodiversity.

Source: Nicobar project will not disturb or displace tribes: Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav - The Hindu