NGT approves controversial Great Nicobar Plan, a move that pushes India’s big plans for the islands forward. The National Green Tribunal stuck with its earlier decision, saying yes to the ₹80,000-crore mega project because of its national and strategic importance. A bench led by Justice Prakash Shrivastava threw out several appeals that tried to block the project on environmental grounds. People worried about forests being cleared, losing biodiversity, and damage to the coast, but the bench said the project followed the law and went through the right approval process.

The tribunal didn’t ignore the island’s place on the map, either, and pointed out that the project’s strategic and economic benefits are too important to pass up, as long as strict safeguards are in place.

Mega Infrastructure Vision for Great Nicobar

The comprehensive development vision for Great Nicobar Island involves the development of a deep-draft international transshipment port at Galathea Bay, an international airport, infrastructure for the township, tourism infrastructure, and associated road and utility networks. The project is to be executed in phases over the next 30 years.

The government plans to develop the island into a maritime and logistics hub in the vicinity of the critically important Malacca Strait, which is one of the busiest sea routes in the world. The government believes that this will help improve the trade competitiveness of India.

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Environmental Safeguards and Oversight

The tribunal observed that the Expert Appraisal Committee and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change had imposed a large number of conditions, including compensatory afforestation, mangrove conservation, coastal regulation zone compliance, and steps for protecting endemic and endangered species.

In addition, the NGT has directed that there be periodic reviews of compliance and has given the monitoring committee the authority to monitor the implementation of safeguards. Petitioners raised concerns about the proposed diversion of large areas of forests and that 8-9 lakh trees will be felled as a result. Furthermore, they expressed concern for coral reefs and turtle nesting habitats, as well as worry that the indigenous Shompens and Nicobarese would be impacted by the proposed works.

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Concerns for Ecological Matters and Indigenous Communities

While the tribunal acknowledged the ecological and cultural impacts, it concluded, based on an environmental assessment and associated safeguard measures, that sufficient legal provisions were in place to address those concerns. However, this ruling could be subject to appeal if challenges arise in the Supreme Court.

NGT approves controversial Great Nicobar Plan, with the government now cleared to proceed, including land acquisition and preliminary works. It is likely that this infrastructure project will remain one of the most publicly discussed projects in India because the environmental and cultural issues surrounding the project are still very much at the forefront of national discussion.

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