{"id":150365,"date":"2025-01-06T19:39:05","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T14:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=150365"},"modified":"2025-01-07T18:29:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T12:59:22","slug":"great-nicobar-island-development-project","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/great-nicobar-island-development-project","title":{"rendered":"High-End Tourism Infra in Great Nicobar"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union Shipping Ministry has proposed new infrastructure additions to the<\/span><b> \u20b972,000 crore mega-project in Great Nicobar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About Great Nicobar Island Development Project<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launched in<\/span><b> 2021,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the<\/span><b> Great Nicobar Island (GNI)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> project is a <\/span><b>Rs. 72,000 crore mega project<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under the <\/span><b>Holistic Development of Islands program.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aimed at transforming the GNI\u00a0 into a hub of trade, tourism, and strategic military presence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementation under the aegis of <\/span><b>NITI Aayog<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> along with collaborations with<\/span><b> global firms and institutions <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for technology and expertise.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was cleared by the <\/span><b>Ministry of Environment in November 2022<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and is part of a broader strategy to enhance India&#8217;s strategic presence and infrastructure in the region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project is expected to be developed over 30 years in a phased manner.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Major Components:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>International Transshipment Port (ITP):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A deep-sea port at Campbell Bay to serve as a major hub for global maritime trade.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Greenfield International Airport:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Development of a modern airport to boost connectivity and support tourism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Integrated Township:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Housing and social infrastructure for residents and workforce, including educational and healthcare facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Dual-use Military-Civilian Infrastructure:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Strengthening India&#8217;s defense posture in the region while supporting civilian use.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>New Addition to the Project<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cruise Terminal:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> For international and domestic high-end tourism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ship-Building and Repair Facilities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Seeking 100 acres of seafront land.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Exim Port: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For construction material imports and exports.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Existing Components of the Mega Project<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">International container transshipment port <\/span><b>at Galathea Bay.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Military-civil airport under Navy control.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Power plant and<\/span><b> greenfield township <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">over 130 sq km of tropical forest.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-150495 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/unnamed-2025-01-07t105245312-677d22ab938b2.webp\" alt=\"Great Nicobar\" width=\"350\" height=\"409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/unnamed-2025-01-07t105245312-677d22ab938b2.webp 800w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/unnamed-2025-01-07t105245312-677d22ab938b2-257x300.webp 257w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/unnamed-2025-01-07t105245312-677d22ab938b2-768x897.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About Great Nicobar Island (GNI)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Location:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Southernmost island of the <\/span><b>Andaman and\u00a0 Nicobar group of islands in the Bay of Bengal.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Geography:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Largest of the Nicobar Islands, mountainous terrain with tropical evergreen forests.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It has a group of 836 islands.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s Southern most<\/span><b> Indira point <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is at the tip of<\/span><b> GNI.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Protected Sites:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Campbell Bay National Park<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Galathea National Park<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ecological Significance:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High biodiversity with unique flora and fauna, including endangered species.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Important for marine life and coral reefs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plays a crucial role in climate regulation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designated a World Network of Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2013.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-150487 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/unnamed-2025-01-07t105238307-677d22aceb4eb.webp\" alt=\"Great Nicobar\" width=\"352\" height=\"484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/unnamed-2025-01-07t105238307-677d22aceb4eb.webp 1200w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/unnamed-2025-01-07t105238307-677d22aceb4eb-218x300.webp 218w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/unnamed-2025-01-07t105238307-677d22aceb4eb-744x1024.webp 744w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/unnamed-2025-01-07t105238307-677d22aceb4eb-768x1057.webp 768w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/unnamed-2025-01-07t105238307-677d22aceb4eb-1116x1536.webp 1116w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 352px) 100vw, 352px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Strategic and Environmental Concerns<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Secrecy and Security:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Information about the project denied under RTI citing sovereignty and security concerns.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Environmental Impact:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Coral reefs, forest clearances, and CRZ restrictions raise ecological issues.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Contradictions in Vision:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Proposed tourism and ship-breaking activities potentially conflict with <\/span><b>strategic purposes cited by the Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Challenges in Implementation<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Policy Shift<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Opens up Great Nicobar to foreign vessels and tourists, <\/span><b>reversing isolationist policies.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stakeholder Dissonance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Resistance from<\/span><b> local administration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over feasibility and compatibility of new proposals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Transparency Issues<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Limited public access to information, raising accountability concerns.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Environmental Sustainability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Conduct independent environmental impact assessments to align development with conservation priorities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strategic Clarity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure alignment between development objectives and strategic security concerns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Public Accountability:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Increase transparency in decision-making processes and public access to project details.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stakeholder Engagement:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Consult local stakeholders and experts to address feasibility and socio-environmental impacts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Also Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Editorials<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a 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Nicobar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":150341,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2089],"subject":[4642],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/150365"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150365"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/150365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":150496,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/150365\/revisions\/150496"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150365"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=150365"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=150365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}