Nicobar project will not disturb or displace tribes: Bhupender yadav

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Last Updated27/08/2024

The ₹72,000-crore project, including a port and airport, will counter Chinese expansionism, Myanmarese poaching,

The development of a port and airport in the pristine Nicobar islands “will not disturb or displace” any of the Shompen, one of the indigenous, vulnerable tribes native to the island, according to Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav.

Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav has assured that the development of a port and airport in the Nicobar Islands, part of the ₹72,000-crore Great Nicobar Project, will not disrupt or displace the indigenous Shompen tribe.
His statements aim to address concerns raised by Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh, who had criticized the project for its potential environmental and social impacts.
The Great Nicobar Project is designed to bolster India’s strategic presence in the region, counteract Chinese expansionism, combat Myanmar’s poaching activities, and enhance international trade.
Yadav also noted that the risk of an earthquake like the devastating 2004 tsunami, which had a magnitude of 9.2, is considered minimal for the next 400 to 700 years.

Jairam Ramesh has called for the revocation of environmental clearances for the project and a review by Parliamentary panels. His objections include:
- The diversion of 13,075 hectares of forest land, which constitutes about 15% of the island’s area.
- Construction in prohibited coastal zones.
- an earthquake-prone zone that had seen the ground shift by 15 feet during the 2004 tsunami.
- Lack of proper consent from the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes.
- Alleged violations of the Forest Rights Act concerning tribal consent and land ownership.
Ramesh also highlighted that a high-powered committee's findings on these issues had been opaque.

Yadav responded by stating that consultations with tribal councils and organizations like the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti had been carried out.
However, the Tribal Council had reportedly withdrawn its consent, and the island administration had not granted forest land ownership to local tribes as per the Forest Rights Act. Yadav’s letter did not address these specific points but mentioned compensation provisions for those losing land due to the project.

Regarding seismic risks, Yadav cited seismologists’ views that a high-magnitude earthquake similar to the 2004 event would likely occur again only after 420 to 750 years. He emphasized adherence to the National Building Code for construction.
The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management's survey also indicated that the project will avoid the most sensitive coastal zones.
The project, planned over 30 years, is expected to be phased, with the number of trees to be felled possibly being half of the initially estimated 9.64 lakh.