This talk in Chennai will explore the Great Nicobar project and its environmental costs

A talk in Chennai will delve into the environmental consequences of the Great Nicobar project, a massive $9 billion development plan on a remote Andaman Island. Bulldozers are currently demolishing pristine forests on Great Nicobar Island, home to one of Earth’s most isolated peoples. This ambitious project, which aims to rival China’s investments in the Indian Ocean, will create a naval presence closer to Southeast Asia than India’s mainland.

Designed to include a transshipment port, international airport, power plant, and township, the project’s scale has sparked concerns about its ecological impact. In 2004, parts of Great Nicobar Island sank by up to 15 feet due to seismic activity, highlighting the island’s vulnerability. Today, this seismically active location is set to undergo a transformative development estimated to cost up to ₹92 lakh crore (approximately $1 trillion).

The project's environmental concerns are significant. Independent scientists estimate that up to 10 million old-growth trees could be cut down, threatening unique species such as the Great Nicobar serpent eagle, Nicobar parakeet, and Nicobar megapode. Additionally, the island hosts one of the most significant leatherback sea turtle nesting sites in the North Eastern Indian Ocean. The proposed development could severely affect these endangered turtle populations.

Beyond environmental implications, the project raises questions about the rights of indigenous communities, the Shompen and Nicobarese, who have lived on the island for thousands of years. There are also concerns about the validity of environmental clearances granted for the project and the economic viability of the proposed investment.