What Happened
- Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, challenged the Centre's claim that the Rs 81,000 crore Great Nicobar Island Development Project would not displace tribal communities.
- Citing a reported draft "Comprehensive Tribal Welfare Plan," Congress alleged the existence of a relocation proposal for Nicobarese families, contradicting the government's assertions of zero displacement.
- Tribal chiefs reported being asked to sign certificates surrendering their land to support the project; the Nicobarese communities refused.
- The Nicobarese were originally relocated from their ancestral west coast lands to the east coast after the 2004 tsunami, with assurances of eventual return -- now they face permanent land loss.
- The Tribal Affairs Ministry demanded answers from Andaman and Nicobar authorities after it emerged that they had wrongly claimed the project had consent of indigenous peoples.
- The Great Nicobar Tribal Council confirmed that consent from the indigenous peoples was not obtained.
- Congress described the project as a "bulldozer" moving ahead "without regard for the concerns of local communities."
Static Topic Bridges
Great Nicobar Island Development Project
The Great Nicobar Island Development Project, conceived by NITI Aayog, is a Rs 81,000 crore mega-infrastructure initiative covering 166.10 sq km of the island. It includes four components: an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTP) at Galathea Bay with 4 million TEU capacity (Phase 1), a dual-use civil-military airport, a gas- and solar-based power plant, and a greenfield township. The port aims to capture transshipment cargo currently handled by Colombo and Singapore -- approximately 75% of India's transshipment cargo is processed abroad. The project is being developed by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDC).
- Total cost: Rs 81,000 crore (revised from Rs 72,000 crore); area: 166.10 sq km
- ICTP at Galathea Bay: 4 million TEUs Phase 1, targeting Colombo/Singapore transshipment share
- Dual-use airport: Civil aviation and military (enhancing India's naval presence near Strait of Malacca)
- Strategic significance: Proximity to major shipping routes; strengthens India's Indian Ocean posture
- Environmental concerns: 8.5 lakh trees to be felled; leatherback turtle nesting site at Galathea Bay
Connection to this news: The tribal displacement controversy is directly about the land acquisition required for this massive project, where strategic and economic ambitions clash with indigenous rights and environmental protection.
Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 and Tribal Land Rights
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 recognises the rights of forest-dwelling tribal communities over land, habitat, and forest resources on which they have been historically dependent. It recognises both Individual Forest Rights (IFR) for cultivation up to 4 hectares and Community Forest Rights (CFR) over community forest resources. Gram Sabhas play the central role in initiating, verifying, and approving claims. The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution provides for administration of Scheduled Areas in mainland India, while the Sixth Schedule covers tribal areas in the Northeast. The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996 empowers Gram Sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas with control over land, water, and forest resources.
- FRA 2006: Recognises individual rights (up to 4 ha), community rights, and habitat rights for PVTGs
- Section 4(5) of FRA: No forest-dwelling tribal can be evicted until recognition and verification of rights is complete
- PESA Act 1996: Gram Sabha consent mandatory for land acquisition in Scheduled Areas
- Fifth Schedule: Governor has power to prohibit/regulate transfer of tribal land; applies in 10 states
- Habitat rights: Specifically protect Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) from displacement
Connection to this news: The Nicobarese are classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), entitled to habitat rights under FRA 2006, making their displacement without free, prior, and informed consent a potential violation of both the FRA and constitutional protections.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Framework
The EIA Notification 2006 (amended in 2020) mandates prior environmental clearance for infrastructure projects based on potential environmental impact. The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2019 regulates activities along India's coastline, with CRZ-I designating ecologically sensitive areas where development is restricted. Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar is a globally significant nesting site for leatherback sea turtles, the world's largest turtle species. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) cleared the project in 2026, though the decision was controversial given the scale of ecological impact -- including the felling of 8.5 lakh trees in a biodiversity hotspot.
- EIA Notification 2006: Mandates environmental clearance for large infrastructure projects
- CRZ Notification 2019: Four zones (CRZ-I to CRZ-IV); CRZ-I is ecologically sensitive
- Galathea Bay: One of the largest leatherback turtle nesting sites globally
- Great Nicobar: Part of the Indo-Burma and Sundaland biodiversity hotspots
- NGT clearance: Granted in February 2026, subject to conditions
Connection to this news: The environmental dimensions of the Great Nicobar project -- tree felling, biodiversity loss, and impact on a critical turtle nesting habitat -- compound the tribal displacement concerns and raise questions about the adequacy of EIA processes for projects of this scale.
Key Facts & Data
- Project cost: Rs 81,000 crore; area: 166.10 sq km on Great Nicobar Island
- ICTP at Galathea Bay: 4 million TEU capacity (Phase 1)
- 75% of India's transshipment cargo currently handled by foreign ports (Colombo, Singapore)
- Nicobarese are classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
- 8.5 lakh trees to be felled for the project
- FRA 2006: Prohibits eviction of forest-dwelling tribals until rights recognition is complete
- Nicobarese were relocated to east coast after 2004 tsunami with assurance of return
- NGT cleared the project in February 2026
- Great Nicobar Tribal Council confirmed no indigenous consent was obtained