ગુજરાતી
English
Fr Cedric Prakash SJ is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist
New Delhi, June 2026: The ₹81,000-crore Great Nicobar Development Project has once again come under scrutiny, with environmentalists, tribal rights advocates and policy experts warning that the mega infrastructure initiative could cause irreversible ecological damage while offering questionable strategic benefits.
An editorial published in the latest issue of the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) titled “The Great Nicobar Project: A Holistic Folly” argues that the project’s environmental costs far outweigh its claimed national advantages. The editorial contends that the government has increasingly framed the project as a matter of national security despite limited references to defence or security concerns in the project’s original planning documents, including a 2021 proposal issued by the NITI Aayog.
Massive Infrastructure Planned
The Great Nicobar project proposes the development of:
- An international container trans-shipment terminal at Galathea Bay
- A greenfield international airport
- A large township and tourism complex
- A power generation facility
According to critics, the core infrastructure alone could result in the destruction of approximately 130 square kilometres of tropical rainforest. Estimates cited by environmental groups suggest that millions of trees may ultimately be affected, while official projections mention the felling of around 865,000 trees.
Concerns Over Biodiversity Loss
Environmental experts have raised concerns about the project’s impact on one of India’s most ecologically sensitive regions. Great Nicobar is part of the globally significant Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot, home to numerous endemic species found nowhere else in the world.
Particular attention has focused on Galathea Bay, considered one of the world’s most important nesting habitats for the endangered Leatherback Turtle. Conservationists have criticized the decision to remove the bay’s protected sanctuary status in 2021 to facilitate project development.
Indigenous Communities at Risk
The project has also sparked concerns about its impact on indigenous communities, particularly the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes, both recognized as vulnerable tribal groups. Rights advocates warn that large-scale construction and population influx could disrupt traditional lifestyles, cultural practices and ecological relationships that have existed for generations.
Environmental Debate Intensifies
The controversy has gained renewed attention around World Environment Day celebrations, as campaigners argue that environmental protection commitments must be matched by policy decisions on the ground.
Critics have linked the Great Nicobar project to broader concerns about deforestation, mining expansion and large-scale industrial development in environmentally sensitive regions. They argue that compensatory afforestation in distant states cannot adequately replace ancient tropical rainforest ecosystems.
Heatwaves Highlight Climate Concerns
The debate comes amid growing concerns over climate change and environmental degradation across India. Recent studies have warned of rising mortality linked to extreme heat events, with states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat among those most vulnerable to severe heatwaves.
Environmental advocates argue that projects involving large-scale forest loss should be evaluated in the context of India’s climate commitments and biodiversity conservation goals.
Calls for Greater Scrutiny
The issue has reignited calls for greater transparency, independent environmental assessments and wider public consultation before major infrastructure projects proceed in ecologically fragile areas.
Supporters of the project maintain that it could strengthen maritime connectivity, logistics capacity and economic development in the strategically located Andaman and Nicobar region. However, opponents insist that the long-term environmental and social costs require far more rigorous examination.
As the debate continues, Great Nicobar has emerged as a focal point in the broader national discussion over balancing economic development, environmental protection and indigenous rights in India’s future growth strategy.
