Context:

In recent years, India has taken major steps to develop the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a key centre of national security and economic growth. This archipelago, located to the east of the Indian mainland, sits at a strategic position in the Bay of Bengal and serves as a gateway to the wider Indo-Pacific region.

• The government’s efforts to upgrade infrastructure on Great Nicobar Island are part of a broader plan to strengthen India’s military capabilities, improve logistics, and enhance maritime connectivity. However, this ambitious project has also sparked debates over its impact on the islands’ fragile ecology and vulnerable indigenous communities.

Strategic Importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are geographically positioned close to the Malacca Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s trade passes. The rapid expansion of China’s naval presence in the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific has heightened the islands’ strategic value.

The project aims to transform the islands into a strong deterrent against external threats, enhance India’s surveillance reach, and safeguard national interests in the region. Over the past five years, India has accelerated its plans to build modern facilities and increase its naval presence.

Key components of the infrastructure development on Great Nicobar Island include:

• An International Container Transshipment Terminal, to facilitate maritime trade and reduce dependence on ports outside the country.
• A greenfield international airport, improving connectivity and rapid deployment capability.
• A modern township, providing accommodation and services for military personnel and other staff.
• Gas and solar-based power plants, aiming to create reliable energy systems.
• Upgraded airfields, jetties, and storage facilities, strengthening logistics and operational readiness.

Strategic and Economic Significance:

Maritime Security and Strategic Deterrence: The island’s proximity to the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits—the busiest sea lanes carrying a significant share of global trade and energy supplies—makes it a critical node for maritime domain awareness. By developing a military and logistics hub, India can:

• Monitor shipping routes used by the Chinese Navy and other strategic actors.
• Enhance rapid response capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Support the goals of the Act East Policy and Maritime India Vision 2030, which envision stronger regional engagement and naval reach.

Transshipment and Economic Integration: The proposed transshipment terminal aims to position India as a regional maritime logistics leader. At present, about 75% of India’s transshipped cargo is handled at foreign ports. Developing a domestic transshipment facility could:

• Reduce logistics costs.
• Generate port-related employment.
• Attract foreign investment in shipping, logistics, and port services.

Tourism and Sustainable Development: The project also proposes cruise tourism, eco-resorts, and recreational facilities. These are intended to replicate models seen in Singapore and the Maldives, aiming to:

• Diversify local economies.
• Improve living standards through job creation.
• Support the development of renewable energy and modern infrastructure.

Environmental Concerns

Large-Scale Deforestation and Habitat Loss: The project will require clearing around 130 sq km of pristine tropical rainforest, some of the last undisturbed forest tracts in the Indian Ocean. While initial estimates placed tree felling at under one million, updated assessments suggest over 10 million trees could be cut. This could:

• Endanger rare plant species.
• Fragment critical habitats.
• Disrupt ecological services such as water regulation, soil conservation, and carbon storage.

Threats to Marine Ecosystems: The coast near Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, a known nesting ground for leatherback turtles, is highly sensitive. The denotification of the sanctuary in 2021 to clear the way for port construction is inconsistent with India’s commitments under the Marine Turtle Action Plan (2021).

The coastline is classified under Coastal Regulation Zone 1A, which restricts activities that damage coral reefs, mangroves, and marine life. Building ship-repair yards, cruise terminals, and port facilities in this area could:

• Degrade coral reef systems.
• Increase marine pollution.
• Disturb fish populations that sustain local livelihoods.

Inadequate Compensatory Afforestation: To offset the loss of Nicobar forests, the project proposes compensatory afforestation in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. However, these mainland regions cannot replicate the unique biodiversity, microclimate, or ecological functions of tropical island forests.

Social and Legal Concerns

Impact on Indigenous Communities: The Shompen and Nicobarese tribes have lived on Great Nicobar for generations, with cultural practices tied to the land and forests. The project raises concerns about:

• Loss of traditional livelihoods like hunting, gathering, and artisanal fishing.
• Displacement from ancestral territories.
• Cultural and social disruption.

Lack of Consultation and Consent: Under India’s Forest Rights Act (2006) and international commitments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the government is obligated to ensure free, prior, and informed consent of tribal communities before approving such projects. Multiple reports suggest that this process has been inadequate.

Non-compliance with Supreme Court Guidelines: The Supreme Court-appointed commission in 2002 had recommended:

• A complete ban on tree felling in tribal reserves and protected areas.
• Afforestation before forest diversion approvals.

These principles have not been fully followed.

Transparency Deficit: Details of environmental clearances, wildlife conservation plans, and social impact assessments have not been made public. The government has invoked national security and sub judice clauses to reject RTI applications and avoid Parliamentary scrutiny. Experts argue that only some parts of the project—like the airport—have clear strategic implications, and withholding all information undermines accountability.

Contradictory Objectives: While the Home Ministry frames the project as a security imperative, the Shipping Ministry promotes it as a tourism and trade hub. This inconsistency complicates the justification for secrecy and raises questions about whether environmental standards are being compromised for commercial gains.

Way Forward

Comprehensive Biodiversity Assessment: A detailed, transparent study must be conducted to identify critical habitats, migration corridors, and breeding grounds of threatened species. This assessment should be led by independent ecologists and published in the public domain.

Minimising Ecological Damage: Options should be explored to redesign infrastructure to avoid sensitive areas. Restoration of degraded lands within the Nicobar group, rather than compensatory afforestation on the mainland, should be prioritised to maintain ecological balance.

Protecting Tribal Rights: Special measures are needed to:

• Minimise displacement.
• Ensure culturally appropriate rehabilitation.
• Provide fair compensation, livelihood support, and skills training.

A local governance council including tribal representatives should be empowered to participate in planning and monitoring.

Independent Oversight: A monitoring body comprising scientists, tribal councils, environmental regulators, and civil society organisations should be established to oversee project execution and compliance with legal safeguards.

Transparent Governance: While protecting genuine security interests, the government must release as much information as possible about environmental, social, and financial aspects. This transparency will build trust and allow constructive public engagement.

Climate and Disaster Preparedness: Given the islands’ vulnerability to cyclones, tsunamis, and rising sea levels, all infrastructure must integrate resilient design, emergency preparedness, and climate adaptation measures.