Great Nicobar Project and Environmental Concerns

GS3 – Environment – Conservation

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently determined that the site selected for the proposed transhipment port under the Great Nicobar Project does not fall under a ‘no-go’ ecological zone of the island.

About the Great Nicobar Project

• Known officially as the “Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island”, the initiative has been conceptualized by NITI Aayog.
• It includes the construction of a greenfield international airport, development of a modern township, and a major transhipment port aimed at boosting strategic and economic potential in the region.

Geographic and Ecological Significance of Great Nicobar Island

• It is the largest and southernmost island in the Nicobar archipelago, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The region is home to dense tropical evergreen rainforests, rich in biodiversity and endemic species.
• Protected areas include the Campbell Bay National Park and the Galathea National Park.
• Indigenous communities such as the Shompen and Nicobarese inhabit this island.

Key Fauna in the Region

• Leatherback Sea Turtle (Vulnerable) – Important nesting grounds.
• Nicobar Shrew (Critically Endangered)
• Nicobar Long-tailed Macaque (Vulnerable)
• Nicobar Megapode (Vulnerable) – A bird known for building massive nesting mounds.
• Great Nicobar Crested Serpent Eagle (Near Threatened)

Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ)

• A special regulatory framework designed to protect the fragile coastal ecosystems of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• ICRZ-IA: Covers highly sensitive ecological zones like coral reefs, mangroves, and turtle nesting sites. These are considered No-Go Areas with strict restrictions on development.
• ICRZ-IB: Includes intertidal zones, where controlled development is permitted with regulatory oversight to ensure minimal environmental impact.

National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• Established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, the NGT functions as a specialized body to handle environment-related legal matters.
• It does not follow the traditional Civil Procedure Code but is based on principles of natural justice for quicker and more flexible adjudication.
• NGT aims to resolve cases within six months of filing and addresses civil disputes under seven environmental laws:
  1. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
  2. The Water Cess Act, 1977
  3. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
  4. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
  5. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  6. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
  7. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002