**Executive Summary**
The Great Nicobar Project is a strategic national initiative designed to enhance India’s maritime security and economic presence in the Andaman Sea through the development of an international transshipment terminal. The project prioritizes sustainable growth by integrating robust environmental safeguards and protecting indigenous tribal communities without displacement. Key milestones include a three-phase tree-felling program scheduled between 2025 and 2047 and the implementation of a comprehensive compensatory afforestation plan across Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic and National Importance**
* Strengthens India’s presence in the Andaman Sea and Southeast Asia while enhancing maritime defense capabilities.
* Counters the "string of pearls" strategy and positions India as a key hub in the Indian Ocean intersection zone.
* Establishes an international transshipment terminal to bridge infrastructural gaps and reduce costs on transshipment cargo.
* Provides a permanent defense presence to monitor maritime routes and prevent poaching of marine resources.
**Environmental Safeguards and Management**
* Project clearances were granted following rigorous scrutiny under the EIA Notification (2006) and ICRZ Notification (2019).
* A detailed Environmental Management Plan (EMP) includes biodiversity conservation, coral translocation, and wildlife management.
* The National Green Tribunal (NGT) upheld the project’s decision-making process in an order dated April 3, 2023.
* Institutional oversight is provided by bodies such as the Wildlife Institute of India and the Zoological Survey of India.
**Forest Conservation and Phased Development**
* Only 166.1 sq. km (approximately 2% of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands) is proposed for development.
* Tree felling is restricted to a maximum of 7.11 lakh trees and will be executed in three phases: Phase I (2025–2035), Phase II (2036–2041), and Phase III (2042–2047).
* An area of 65.99 sq. km will be strictly retained as a green zone with no tree felling.
* Compensatory Afforestation (CA) for 130.75 sq. km of diverted forest land will be carried out over 24,750.93 hectares in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.
**Protection of Tribal Communities**
* No displacement of tribal populations is permitted under the project guidelines.
* The interests of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), specifically the Shompen community, are protected in line with the Shompen Policy (2015).
* The project involves the de-notification of 73.07 sq. km of tribal reserve, which is offset by the re-notification of 76.98 sq. km, resulting in a net addition of 3.912 sq. km to the tribal reserve.
**Impact Analysis**
**National Security and Defense Agencies**
**Impact**
The project provides a strategic base to counter foreign maritime presence and secure vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean.
**Action Required**
Establish a permanent defense presence and monitor the intersection zone to prevent illegal poaching and environmental destruction.
**Indigenous Tribal Communities (Shompen and PVTGs)**
**Impact**
While 84.10 sq. km of the project overlaps with tribal reserves, the community is protected from displacement and will see a net increase in officially reserved land.
**Action Required**
Ensure continued adherence to the Jarawa Policy (2004) and Shompen Policy (2015) during all construction phases.
**Environmental and Forest Regulatory Bodies**
**Impact**
These bodies are responsible for overseeing the diversion of forest land and the execution of the phased felling and afforestation plans.
**Action Required**
Implement the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and manage the restoration of 24,750.93 hectares of compensatory land in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.
**Project Developers and International Trade Stakeholders**
**Impact**
Stakeholders gain access to a major transshipment hub with significant locational advantages over competing regional ports.
**Action Required**
Execute infrastructure development within the strict 166.1 sq. km limit while maintaining the earmarked 65.99 sq. km green area.
Key Entities Referenced
Great Nicobar Project: A strategic national initiative involving the development of an international transshipment terminal and defense infrastructure to strengthen India's presence in the Andaman Sea.
National Green Tribunal (NGT): The specialized judicial body that reviewed and upheld the project's environmental and forest clearances, recognizing its significance for national security.
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006: The primary regulatory framework used to conduct a multi-tiered appraisal and manage the potential ecological impacts of the project.
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: The governing law for the diversion of forest land and the implementation of the project's compensatory afforestation plans.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The primary regulatory authority that granted the No Objection Certificate and ensures the protection of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) like the Shompen.
PIB Headquarters
Great Nicobar Project: FAQs
Posted On: 01 MAY 2026 5:44PM by PIB Delhi
The Great Nicobar Project is a strategic initiative to strengthen India's presence in the Andaman Sea. It
seeks to balance port-led growth with calibrated environmental safeguards. Protection of indigenous
communities remains central to its planning. The project combines strategic, economic, and ecological
priorities. This ensures that development is sustainable, inclusive, and aligned with national interests.
The following FAQs provide an understanding of the key aspects of the project:
Does the Great Nicobar Island Project serve a clear strategic and national purpose?
The Great Nicobar Island Project is a project of strategic, defence, and national importance, undertaken
after due diligence and careful consideration. It is of critical national security and strategic significance.
The project will substantially strengthen India's presence in the Andaman Sea and Southeast Asia, enhance
maritime and defence capabilities, and integrate the island with global trade and logistics networks. It will
also establish a major international transshipment terminal with distinct locational advantages over
competing ports in the Bay of Bengal region, positioning India as a key economic and strategic hub.
It is because of the rigor of environmental scrutiny and after incorporating the consequent safeguards that
the Environment and Forest Clearances were granted. The Environmental and Forest Clearances so
granted has withstood the judicial scrutiny.
With reference to the Hon'ble NGTs order dated 3rd April, 2023 wherein Hon'ble NGT, recognises that the
" project has great significance not only for economic development of the island and surrounding areas of
strategic location but also for defense and national security. Even the appellants have not joined issue on
these aspects. While the Tribunal's consideration is confined to material on record, we have also noted
(without any comment) media reports that the area is located in China's 'string of pearls' strategy which is
sought to be countered by Indian Authorities under India's 'Act East' policy. Indian Ocean has emerged as
a key intersection zone of Indian and Chinese strategic interests. There are further media reports of huge
poaching of environmental marine resources of Andaman by poachers from Myanmar for which number
of people have been arrested. Poaching activities include destruction of corals, killing of sharks, taking
away of valuable fishes. The project will help bridge infrastructural gap in island and promote
international trade saving huge amount on transhipment cargo".
The availability of a strong and permanent defence presence in Great Nicobar, enable India to effectively
monitor and secure maritime routes and counter the growing presence of foreign powers in the Indian
Ocean.
In view of the above, the Great Nicobar Project is of paramount national importance. It combines the
objectives of economic growth, infrastructure development, and employment generation with critical
national security imperatives. This contributes to India’s long-term strategic and developmental interests
in the Indian Ocean Region.
Does the project incorporate robust environmental safeguards alongside development objectives?The potential ecological impacts of the project have been comprehensively identified, assessed, and are
being effectively managed through a robust Environmental Impact Assessment process and a detailed
Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The assessment was carried out in accordance with the EIA
Notification, 2006 and ICRZ Notification, 2019. It involved reputed national institutions including the
Zoological Survey of India, Wildlife Institute of India, and Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural
History, along with premier technical bodies such as IITs, NIOT, NCCR, and NIO. This ensured a
scientifically rigorous and multi-disciplinary appraisal.
Based on their findings, stringent mitigation and conservation measures have been incorporated into the
Environmental Clearance. These include biodiversity conservation plans, coral protection and
translocation, wildlife management strategies, and long-term ecological monitoring. The EMP is
supported by substantial financial allocation and institutional oversight. It provides for continuous
implementation of mitigation measures during both construction and operation phases, ensuring that
ecological impacts are minimised, monitored, and effectively managed in a sustained and accountable
manner.
Will the island's forests and tree cover be adequately preserved and compensated for?
Only 166.1 sq. km of area is proposed for development, which is approximately 2% of the total area of
Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Further, 130.75 sq. km of forest area is proposed to be diverted for the
project which is only approximately 1.82% of the total forest area of A & N Islands.
The total estimated tree count in the 130.75 sq. km of forest land to be diverted is 18.65 lakh. Of these, a
maximum of 7.11 lakh trees are estimated to be felled in the 49.86 sq. km forest area. Tree felling will be
undertaken in a phased manner: 2.79 lakh trees in Phase I (2025–2035), 3.41 lakh trees in Phase II (2036–
2041), and 0.91 lakh trees in Phase III (2042–2047). Further, as per the EC & FC condition, an area of
65.99 sq. km shall be retained as a green area with no tree felling.
As per MoEF&CC Guidelines dated 22.05.2019 under The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, States/UTs
with over 75% forest cover are exempt from providing non-forest land for Compensatory Afforestation
(CA) and such CA may instead be taken up in other States/UTs with available land banks.
Since A & N Islands have more than 75% forest cover, CA is proposed outside the UT. The diversion of
130.75 sq. km of forest land has been offset through a comprehensive Compensatory Afforestation (CA)
plan under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. A total of 24,750.93 ha has been identified for CA:
1,414.95 ha of non-forest land (equivalent to the diverted area) and over double that extent in degraded
forest land. Of this, about 17,000 ha is in Haryana and 6,320.10 ha is in Madhya Pradesh, ensuring
adequate ecological compensation.
A significant portion of the Compensatory Afforestation land identified in Haryana comprises degraded
forest areas, including PLPA lands, which are largely situated within the Aravalli landscape. These areas
are earmarked for ecological restoration in accordance with prevailing guidelines.
Will tribal communities be safeguarded, ensuring the continuity of their culture and rights?
All statutory procedures and policy safeguards for the protection of tribal communities have been duly
complied with in the Great Nicobar Island Project. Necessary consultations were undertaken with
competent authorities and domain experts, including the Anthropological Survey of India, Ministry of
Tribal Affairs, and other stakeholders, in line with the Jarawa Policy, 2004 and Shompen Policy, 2015. The
Empowered Committee, comprising senior officials and eminent anthropologists, has categorically
ensured that the interests of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), especially the Shompen
community, will not be adversely affected. No displacement of tribal populations shall be permitted. The
project has also secured a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, with due adherence
to the Forest Rights Act, 2006.Currently, Great Nicobar Island has 751.070 sq. km of land officially marked as Tribal Reserve. Of the
166.10 sq. km proposed for development, 84.10 sq. km overlaps with the Tribal Reserve. Within this
portion, 11.032 sq. km has already been settled and used as revenue land since 1972. The effectively
remaining area of 73.07 sq. km is being de-notified for project purposes. To compensate, 76.98 sq. km is
being re-notified as tribal reserve, resulting in a net addition of 3.912 sq. km. In Phase I, only 40.01 sq. km
of tribal area is involved, of which 11.032 sq. km has been under revenue use since 1972.
Does the project strike a balanced approach between protecting natural heritage and advancing
national development?
The project has undergone comprehensive scientific and regulatory appraisal, taking into account the
uniqueness of the island's biodiversity. The environmental impact of the project has been assessed in a
detailed and multi-tiered manner in accordance with the Environment Impact Assessment Notification,
2006 and Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019, wherein due consideration has been given to the
ecological sensitivity and biodiversity value of the island. Based on such assessment, a robust
Environmental Management Plan, along with stringent and enforceable conditions, has been prescribed to
avoid, minimise and mitigate any potential impacts.
The project has been conceived with a balanced approach, integrating environmental safeguards with
strategic and national development objectives. Extensive mitigation measures, continuous monitoring
mechanisms, and institutional oversight have been put in place to ensure the protection of biodiversity and
ecological integrity over the long term. The project is therefore a carefully planned initiative with in-built
safeguards that address environmental concerns while advancing national interests.
Is the project well-planned, feasible, and designed with long-term impact in mind?
The environmental impact of the project has been assessed in a detailed and multi-tiered manner in
accordance with the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 and Coastal Regulation Zone
Notification, 2019, wherein due consideration has been given to the ecological sensitivity and biodiversity
value of the island. Based on such assessment, a robust Environmental Management Plan, along with
stringent and enforceable conditions, has been prescribed to avoid, minimise and mitigate any potential
impacts.
Has the Environmental Clearance process been thorough and subject to independent judicial
scrutiny?
The project has undergone a comprehensive appraisal in accordance with the Environment Impact
Assessment Notification, 2006 and Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019. All relevant
environmental aspects were rigorously examined by expert bodies. The Environmental Clearance
incorporates detailed and enforceable conditions, supported by a robust Environmental Management Plan
and a continuous monitoring framework, ensuring that all identified environmental concerns are
adequately addressed.
It is further submitted that the project has withstood judicial scrutiny before the National Green Tribunal, a
specialised statutory body entrusted with adjudication of environmental matters. The Hon’ble Tribunal
considered the pleadings, materials on record, and expert inputs before upholding the decision-making
process. This affirmed that environmental concerns were duly examined and addressed in accordance with
law.
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