Overview
Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project: The Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project (GNIP) is a comprehensive development initiative on Great Nicobar Island. Its key components include the construction of a transhipment port, an international airport, township infrastructure, and a 450 MVA gas and solar-based power plant. The project is overseen by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).
Tribal Concerns
The tribal council has raised significant objections, stating that the forest rights of the indigenous communities on the island remain unsettled. This includes local groups such as the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes.
Static GK fact: The Shompen are among India’s least-known tribal groups, residing exclusively on Great Nicobar, and are among the country’s smallest and most isolated communities. The Nicobarese, by contrast, are Austroasiatic-speaking and constitute a larger tribal population in the Nicobar Islands.
Strategic Importance
GNIP aims to strategically position Great Nicobar as a pivotal hub for maritime connectivity in the Bay of Bengal. The transhipment port could significantly enhance India’s logistical capabilities and reduce reliance on regional ports like Port Blair. An international airport would bolster connectivity, tourism, and regional disaster response.
Static GK Tip: Great Nicobar Island is the southernmost point of India and lies near the 0° N latitude, making it geographically significant for maritime routes through the Malacca Strait.
Environmental and Seismic Risks
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are known to lie along the Andaman–Sumatra subduction zone, making them highly seismically active. This raises concerns about the resilience of large infrastructure projects like airports and power plants. Potential threats include earthquakes, tsunamis, and subsidence.
Balancing Development and Rights
The GSTP’s success hinges on striking a balance between national strategic interests, environmental safeguards, and tribal rights. Unless forest and land rights are reconciled—with full consultation and consent from tribal communities—the project risks being contentious and potentially in violation of constitutional protections.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project:
| Topic | Detail |
| Project Components | Transhipment port, international airport, township, 450 MVA gas-solar power plant |
| Implementing Agency | Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) |
| Tribal Opposition | Forest rights unsettled for Shompen and Nicobarese tribal communities |
| Environmental and Geographical Risk | Region falls in a seismically active zone prone to earthquakes, tsunamis |
