A Project of Promise and Peril
India’s ambitious Great Nicobar project to transform the island into a ‘Hong Kong-like’ hub has sparked a wave of apprehension among local communities and environmentalists. With a budget of ₹720 billion ($9 billion), the project spans 166 sq km and includes a transshipment harbor, an airport, a power plant, and a new township. Strategically located near the busy Strait of Malacca, the development is poised to enhance India’s position in international trade and counter China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean.
The government anticipates the island’s population will grow to 650,000 over the next 30 years, turning it into a bustling trade and tourism center. However, the project’s promise of economic growth is shadowed by fears of profound cultural and ecological disruption. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a federally administered territory of 836 islands, are home to some of the world’s most vulnerable indigenous tribes and delicate ecosystems.
Threats to Indigenous Communities and Culture
The indigenous Shompen tribe, numbering around 400, faces existential threats as the Great Nicobar project encroaches on their forested habitats. Known for their nomadic lifestyle, the Shompen rely on the island’s natural resources for survival, maintaining minimal contact with the outside world. Anthropologist Anice Justin, who has studied the island since 1985, warns that development could irrevocably alter their way of life. “The Shompen people do not have the means to survive in an industrial world,” he says, fearing they could meet the same fate as the Nicobarese, another local tribe displaced by the 2004 tsunami.
International experts have echoed these concerns, labeling the project a potential “death sentence” for the Shompen. Apart from cultural disruption, the introduction of diseases to which these tribes have no immunity poses a grave risk. According to Callum Russell of Survival International, uncontacted tribes typically lose two-thirds of their population after exposure to external diseases.
Environmental Costs and Ecological Risks
Great Nicobar Island, 80% of which is covered by rainforests, is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 1,800 animal species and 800 flora species. The government has assured that only 14% of the island—130 sq km—will be cleared for the project. However, environmentalists argue that the scale of tree felling, pollution, and infrastructure development will have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem.
Marine ecosystems are also under threat. Galathea Bay, a vital nesting ground for the endangered giant leatherback sea turtles, is at risk of habitat destruction. The government has claimed these areas will remain undisturbed, but experts like Dr. Manish Chandi warn that numerous other species, including saltwater crocodiles and fish, could face habitat loss. Plans to relocate coral reefs have also raised skepticism among ecologists.
Madhav Gadgil, an ecologist, cautions that the long-term impact of pollution and habitat destruction from the Great Nicobar project is often underestimated. “Infrastructure development impacts the entire habitat, not just the area directly affected by construction,” he says.
Balancing Progress with Preservation
Despite assurances from India’s Environment Minister, Bhupendra Yadav, that the project includes rigorous environmental safeguards, critics remain unconvinced. Local communities and experts fear the irreversible loss of biodiversity and the disintegration of indigenous cultures.
As the Great Nicobar project unfolds over the next three decades, its potential to reshape Great Nicobar Island stands at a crossroads. Advocates of the development argue that it could drive economic growth and strengthen India’s global trade footprint. However, for the island’s tribes and ecosystems, the stakes are immeasurably high.
