Ecological and Tribal Concerns Over the ₹72,000 Crore Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project
The Great Nicobar Project, a ₹72,000 crore mega-infrastructure plan, is facing criticism for being a potential ecological disaster. The project threatens the ancestral lands of the Shompen (a PVTG) and Nicobarese tribes, potentially displacing them permanently. Critics argue that mandatory Social Impact Assessments and consultations with tribal councils were bypassed. Furthermore, the project involves clearing vast tracts of rainforest, with 'compensatory afforestation' planned thousands of kilometers away in Haryana. The site also falls within a seismically active zone and critical turtle nesting grounds, raising serious environmental and safety concerns.
Key Points
- The project impacts the Shompen tribe, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) with unique ancestral rights.
- Legal safeguards under the Forest Rights Act (2006) and the LARR Act (2013) were allegedly ignored during the approval process.
- Environmentalists warn about the destruction of the habitat of the Nicobar long-tailed macaque and leatherback sea turtles.
- The planned port site is located in a high-risk seismic zone (Zone V) near the epicenter of the 2004 tsunami.
Exam Facts
- Project Cost: ₹72,000 crore.
- Affected Tribes: Shompen (PVTG) and Nicobarese.
- Relevant Laws: Forest Rights Act (2006) and Right to Fair Compensation (LARR) Act, 2013.
- Environmental Zone: Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) IA.
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