The Great Nicobar Island Project, launched by the Narendra Modi government, is a comprehensive development plan aimed at transforming the island into a major hub of maritime and air connectivity in the Indian Ocean Region. The project includes an international container transhipment terminal, a greenfield international airport, a 450 MVA gas and solar-based power plant, and a township spanning 16,610 hectares.
Before giving the project the green signal, detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies were conducted, and an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) was prepared to minimize the project’s impact during construction and operation phases. An amount of ₹81.55 crore has already been released for wildlife conservation plans, demonstrating the government’s commitment to environmental conservation.
The project has undergone appraisal at multiple levels, including statutory scrutiny under the EIA Notification, 2006, and clearance has been granted only after compliance with prescribed procedures. The project will not displace the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes, and a committee has been mandated to oversee their welfare and issues. The administration has also made budgetary provisions for tribal welfare plans throughout the project period and beyond.
The development plan is in sync with the Shompen Policy, which allows large-scale development proposals in Great Nicobar Island subject to consultation with the Ministry, Directorate of Tribal Welfare, and the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti. Necessary consultation with the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs was carried out, and the project is based on the recommendation of the Empowered Committee.
The project is expected to accelerate holistic development, generate employment, and position the Islands strategically and economically. It will cover only 2% of the total area of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and 130.75 sq km of forest area will be diverted for the project, which is approximately 1.82% of the total forest area. Compensatory afforestation will be raised in other states, and an area of 97.30 sq km has been identified in Haryana for diversion of phase I of forest land.
Studies by reputed government organizations, including the Zoological Survey of India, the Botanical Survey of India, and the Wildlife Institute of India, have been conducted to assess the project’s environmental impact. The project incorporates safe wildlife corridors at eight locations to facilitate movement of wildlife between forest and sea shore.
The Narendra Modi government remains committed to the welfare of tribal groups, environmental safeguards, and sustainable development. Comprehensive safeguards have been prescribed to ensure the long-term protection of the Shompen and Nicobarese communities. The Great Nicobar Project combines economic growth, infrastructure development, and employment generation with critical national security imperatives, contributing to India’s long-term strategic and developmental interests in the Indian Ocean Region while protecting the environment.