Great Nicobar Project: Balancing Development & Ecology
The Great Nicobar Project, approved in 2021 with an investment of ₹72,000 crore, is one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure initiatives. Implemented by ANIIDCO, it includes a transshipment port at Galathea Bay, a greenfield international airport, a 450 MW power plant, and a modern township spread across 166 sq. km. Phased construction begins in 2024, with partial operations expected by 2028.
🔹 Strategic Significance • Located near the Malacca Strait, a critical global trade route. • Expected to generate over ₹30,000 crore annually by 2040 and create 50,000 jobs. • Boosts connectivity, tourism, and India’s Indo-Pacific maritime presence.
🔹 Key Concerns • Risk to biodiversity: 200+ bird species, coral reefs, and the leatherback turtle nesting site. • Threat of displacement and health risks for Shompen and Nicobarese tribes. • Vulnerability to tsunamis and earthquakes in a seismic zone.
🔹 Way Forward Experts stress a phased and eco-sensitive approach—prioritising defence and port infrastructure while safeguarding ecology and indigenous rights. Balancing growth with sustainability will ensure that Great Nicobar emerges as a strategic hub without ecological loss.
PLUTUS IAS
Great Nicobar Project: Balancing Development & Ecology
The Great Nicobar Project, approved in 2021 with an investment of ₹72,000 crore, is one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure initiatives. Implemented by ANIIDCO, it includes a transshipment port at Galathea Bay, a greenfield international airport, a 450 MW power plant, and a modern township spread across 166 sq. km. Phased construction begins in 2024, with partial operations expected by 2028.
🔹 Strategic Significance
• Located near the Malacca Strait, a critical global trade route.
• Expected to generate over ₹30,000 crore annually by 2040 and create 50,000 jobs.
• Boosts connectivity, tourism, and India’s Indo-Pacific maritime presence.
🔹 Key Concerns
• Risk to biodiversity: 200+ bird species, coral reefs, and the leatherback turtle nesting site.
• Threat of displacement and health risks for Shompen and Nicobarese tribes.
• Vulnerability to tsunamis and earthquakes in a seismic zone.
🔹 Way Forward
Experts stress a phased and eco-sensitive approach—prioritising defence and port infrastructure while safeguarding ecology and indigenous rights. Balancing growth with sustainability will ensure that Great Nicobar emerges as a strategic hub without ecological loss.
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