We have several laws to protect the identity of the tribal communities. There is no need to shelve strategically important projects and infrastructure development schemes in Nicobar.
Opposition says the 'mega-infrastructure project', which includes greenfield international airport & a township, could have 'disastrous' human, social, and ecological consequences.
In ‘The Great Nicobar Betrayal’, Pankaj Sekhsaria looks at the ecological implications brought on by mega development project that’s planned for the island.
Coal-based power generation fell 3% in 2025 while renewable capacity surged to 40% of India’s installed power mix, according to India Power Sector Review 2025 by CREA.
Pakistan military said it has assured Bangladesh of fast-tracked delivery of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft during high level defence meet held Tuesday.
Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.
this is a strange piece. here are some of the points it ignores.
1. given high ecological costs, can it muster funding?
2. is the project economically viable given the high cost of construction in this remote location?
3. this project has already swelled from rs 10000 cr to 72000 cr to 82000 cr to 92000 cr since 2020. why are costs rising so fast? how do these interest payments balance against earnings from the port?
4. if there is a shortfall, will there be viability gap funding? if so, what is total outlay then?
5. the last big quake in the island — it gets multiple tremors each week — was in July and stood over 6 on Richter scale with an epicentre just 60 km away. how is this a good location for building a city for 300,000 people + 92,000 cr investment? we all know what happened with the tsunami on this island?
it is easy to repeat talking points about the port. but it would have been better if the author had engaged with some of the concerns instead of choosing to skip past them entirely.
The author is right that this area needs to be developed as a defence base to check China’s plans to dominate the Indian Ocean. Both anti Sub and air operations need to be enhanced.
To conserve the fragile environment to the maximum, the centre must look at the defence aspects only and drop the tourist and trade ambitions. The Andamans can be looked at for tourism promotion.
The existence of laws has never prevented governments from violating all environmental norms. The UPA was persuaded to safeguard the Gangotri glacier region only after a strong agitation by prof G D Aggarwal. We find that the NDA has ignored the Chopra committee guidelines in the Chat Dham project. Hence activists and environmentalists still have a role to play in seeing that this project is suitably modified to minimise environmental impact.
Mr. Chari is right. There are laws to defend the native tribes in the islands who have chosen to say away from the ‘civilisational’ mainstream. However, Mr. Chari should also know that more often than not these laws do not come in the way of implementing what the government wants. So let us not discuss laws.
Virually all of the experts have deemed this project to be an environmental disaster. This project will also adversely affect the Shompen tribes.
Mr. Chari is right about the Chinese activities on the Great Coco Island. However with its plethora of possibilities in the Bay of Bengal, India can come up with a better plan that harming its own environment and people.
We kicked the British out saying we want freedom and development. After receiving freedom but failing to become a developed country, socialist India wants to develop Nicobar. Good luck with that.
this is a strange piece. here are some of the points it ignores.
1. given high ecological costs, can it muster funding?
2. is the project economically viable given the high cost of construction in this remote location?
3. this project has already swelled from rs 10000 cr to 72000 cr to 82000 cr to 92000 cr since 2020. why are costs rising so fast? how do these interest payments balance against earnings from the port?
4. if there is a shortfall, will there be viability gap funding? if so, what is total outlay then?
5. the last big quake in the island — it gets multiple tremors each week — was in July and stood over 6 on Richter scale with an epicentre just 60 km away. how is this a good location for building a city for 300,000 people + 92,000 cr investment? we all know what happened with the tsunami on this island?
it is easy to repeat talking points about the port. but it would have been better if the author had engaged with some of the concerns instead of choosing to skip past them entirely.
The author is right that this area needs to be developed as a defence base to check China’s plans to dominate the Indian Ocean. Both anti Sub and air operations need to be enhanced.
To conserve the fragile environment to the maximum, the centre must look at the defence aspects only and drop the tourist and trade ambitions. The Andamans can be looked at for tourism promotion.
The existence of laws has never prevented governments from violating all environmental norms. The UPA was persuaded to safeguard the Gangotri glacier region only after a strong agitation by prof G D Aggarwal. We find that the NDA has ignored the Chopra committee guidelines in the Chat Dham project. Hence activists and environmentalists still have a role to play in seeing that this project is suitably modified to minimise environmental impact.
Mr. Chari is right. There are laws to defend the native tribes in the islands who have chosen to say away from the ‘civilisational’ mainstream. However, Mr. Chari should also know that more often than not these laws do not come in the way of implementing what the government wants. So let us not discuss laws.
Virually all of the experts have deemed this project to be an environmental disaster. This project will also adversely affect the Shompen tribes.
Mr. Chari is right about the Chinese activities on the Great Coco Island. However with its plethora of possibilities in the Bay of Bengal, India can come up with a better plan that harming its own environment and people.
We kicked the British out saying we want freedom and development. After receiving freedom but failing to become a developed country, socialist India wants to develop Nicobar. Good luck with that.