[Answered] The Great Nicobar project is a strategic necessity. Critically examine whether its development truly balances national security imperatives with the ecological and social sustainability of the island.

Introduction

Great Nicobar Island, located near the Malacca Strait through which 40% of global trade flows (UNCTAD, 2023), is central to India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Maritime Strategy.

Strategic Necessity

1. Geostrategic Location: Proximity to the Six Degree Channel enhances maritime domain awareness. Strengthens India’s counter to China’s String of Pearls and PLA Navy’s presence in Hambantota & Gwadar. Complements Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC), India’s only tri-service command.
2. Economic & Connectivity Hub: The International Container Transshipment Terminal (14.2 million TEUs) can rival Singapore and Colombo, reducing India’s dependence on foreign hubs. A Greenfield Airport will boost logistics, tourism, and air-sea connectivity.
3. Defence & National Security: Enhances logistics resilience under SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). Reinforces QUAD’s Indo-Pacific vision, providing India leverage in chokepoint control.

Ecological and Social Concerns

1. Ecological Fragility: 130.75 sq. km forest diversion risks felling 7.11 lakh trees; island harbours endemic species like Nicobar megapode, saltwater crocodile. Located in Seismic Zone V, raising disaster vulnerability (2004 Tsunami impact). IUCN and IPCC AR6 reports highlight climate change threats to island ecosystems.
2. Tribal Welfare Issues: Home to PVTGs – Shompens and Nicobarese. Though authorities claim no displacement, concerns remain on cultural erosion and disease vulnerability, recalling Jarawa isolation breaches (2004-12). UNDRIP (2007) stresses “free, prior, and informed consent” – implementation remains debated.
3. Environmental Governance: EIAs and EMPs exist, but past precedents (POSCO Odisha, Niyamgiri mining case – SC 2013) show gaps between legal safeguards and ground-level execution. Example, Compensatory afforestation in Haryana lacks ecological equivalence to tropical island forests – raises questions of environmental justice.

Attempts at Balancing

1. Tribal Reserve Swap: Net gain of 3.912 sq. km tribal reserve through denotification-compensation model.
2. Wildlife Corridors & Viaducts: To enable species movement between forest and shore.
3. Budgetary Provision for Tribal Welfare: Continuous funding for Shompens and Nicobarese welfare.
4. Phased Development (2025–47): Allows adaptive monitoring and mid-course correction.
5. Global Best Practices: Inspired by Changi Airport’s ecological design (Singapore) and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef sustainable port regulations.

Critical Assessment

1. Strategic imperatives are undeniable—India cannot remain passive while China expands naval footprints.
2. However, ecological compensation outside island ecosystems undermines sustainability.
3. Long-term impacts on PVTGs’ cultural survival remain under-studied.
4. A middle path of adaptive governance, stakeholder participation, and green infrastructure is essential to prevent the project becoming another “development vs. environment” conflict.

Conclusion

As Amartya Sen notes in Development as Freedom, true progress integrates security, equity, and ecology. Great Nicobar’s development must embody this synthesis to safeguard India’s strategic and social futures.