NGT Gives Nod to ₹81,000 Crore Great Nicobar Project-With Strict Green Rules!

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has cleared the ₹81,000 crore Great Nicobar Project, stating it found no valid ground to interfere with the environmental clearance granted earlier. The decision was delivered on February 16, 2026, by a six-member bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava. While acknowledging the strategic importance of the Great Nicobar Project, the tribunal imposed strict environmental safeguards to protect coral reefs, sandy beaches, wildlife, and tribal communities. The project will now proceed under stringent monitoring and compliance conditions.

NGT Approval for Great Nicobar Project: What the Tribunal Said

• The Great Nicobar Project received NGT approval after fresh pleas challenging its environmental and coastal clearances were dismissed.
• The tribunal upheld the Environmental Clearance (EC) granted in November 2022, noting that adequate safeguards were incorporated.
• The bench emphasised that national interest and strategic needs must be balanced with environmental protection.
• It directed that all conditions attached to the clearance are legally binding and must be strictly followed.
• This marks the second round of litigation, reinforcing the tribunal’s view that the Great Nicobar Project holds significant geopolitical and economic importance.

Environmental Safeguards Imposed on Great Nicobar Project

• The Great Nicobar Project has been allowed to proceed with strong environmental safeguards.
• The NGT directed that construction must not cause shoreline erosion or loss of sandy beaches, which are critical nesting grounds for turtles and birds.
• Coral reefs must be protected through scientific regeneration and translocation as advised by the Zoological Survey of India.
• Over 16,000 coral colonies identified within shallow waters are to be relocated.
• Protection measures are mandated for endangered species such as the Leatherback turtle, Nicobar megapode, saltwater crocodile, robber crab, and Nicobar macaque.

What Is the Great Nicobar Project?

• The Great Nicobar Project is a mega infrastructure initiative conceived by NITI Aayog in 2021.
• It aims to transform Great Nicobar Island into a major strategic and economic hub under Maritime Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
• The project includes an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport, township development, and a 450 MVA gas- and solar-based power plant.
• Located near key global shipping routes, the Great Nicobar Project seeks to reduce India’s dependence on foreign transshipment ports like Singapore and Colombo.

Strategic Importance of Great Nicobar Island

• Great Nicobar Island lies close to the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints connecting the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.
• Its proximity enhances India’s Indo-Pacific security and maritime domain awareness.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands serve as India’s first line of maritime defence, sharing sea boundaries with Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
• The project strengthens military deterrence by enabling deployment of warships, aircraft, and surveillance systems.
• It also aligns with India’s Act East policy and aims to counter growing strategic influence in the region.

Tribal and Ecological Concerns

• Despite NGT approval, concerns remain about deforestation, seismic vulnerability and displacement of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) like the Shompen and Nicobarese.
• The project requires consultation under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and involvement of tribal welfare bodies such as AAJVS and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes under Article 338A(9).
• The island hosts Campbell Bay National Park, Galathea Bay National Park, and the UNESCO-recognised Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. Strict enforcement and genuine consultation will be key for sustainable implementation.

About Great Nicobar Island

• Great Nicobar Island is the largest island in the Nicobar group of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman and Nicobar groups.
• Indira Point, India’s southernmost point, is located here, just 90 nautical miles from Sumatra, Indonesia.
• The island has tropical rainforests and over 75% forest cover.
• It is part of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme since 2013.
• The region falls under the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) Notification, 2019.

Quetion

Q. Great Nicobar Island is located in which Union Territory?

A) Lakshadweep
B) Puducherry
C) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
D) Daman and Diu