The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a remote territory of India known for its pristine rainforests and isolated indigenous tribes, is facing a significant challenge as the Indian government moves forward with a multi-billion-dollar development project on Great Nicobar Island. The project, estimated at ₹720 billion (approximately $9 billion), is part of India’s strategy to boost trade and tourism in the region but has raised serious concerns among locals and environmentalists.
Anstice Justin, an anthropologist who has lived in the islands for decades, expressed his apprehension about the development, stating, “The forest is our supermarket. We get almost everything from the forests on these islands. It is what we survive on.” Justin’s worry is shared by many islanders who fear the project will lead to the loss of their ancestral land and disrupt their way of life.
The development plan includes the construction of a transshipment harbor, an airport, a power plant, and a township spread across 166 square kilometers of Great Nicobar Island, located near the busy Strait of Malacca. Once completed, the project is expected to support a population of 650,000 and is seen as a key part of India’s effort to counter China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean region.
However, the project poses a direct threat to the island’s indigenous communities, including the Shompen, a nomadic tribe that lives deep in the island’s rainforests. The Shompen, numbering around 400 people, have limited contact with the outside world and depend on the forest for survival. Experts fear that the development could push them to the brink of extinction, with their traditional way of life being obliterated. “Whatever we call development in the outside world is not of interest to them. They have a traditional life of their own,” Justin explained.
Environmentalists are also sounding alarms about the ecological consequences of the project. Great Nicobar Island, which spans 921 square kilometers, is home to diverse wildlife, including more than 1,800 animal species and 800 types of plants, many of which are endemic. The federal government has claimed that only 14% of the island will be cleared for the project, but experts warn that the environmental impact could be far greater, affecting the island’s fragile ecosystem.
Madhav Gadgil, an ecologist, argued that the infrastructure required for the project would lead to pollution and disruption of the local habitat. Meanwhile, 39 international experts have warned that the Shompen’s environment will be destroyed, which could lead to their collapse as a community.
The government has assured that environmental clearances have been granted, and that the project will not disturb the indigenous tribes. However, there are ongoing fears about the possible exposure of the island’s uncontacted tribes to diseases, such as flu and measles, which have historically devastated isolated communities.
In addition to the land-based concerns, there are worries about the project’s effect on marine life, particularly in Galathea Bay, a crucial nesting ground for giant leatherback sea turtles. Ecologists have raised concerns that construction could displace various marine species, further threatening the region’s biodiversity.
As the project progresses, the people of Great Nicobar Island face an uncertain future, with the promise of development clashing against the preservation of their land, culture, and environment.
