7. Displacement and Dilemmas: The Great Nicobar Mega-Infrastructure Project

Summary of Key Issues • Settler Grievances over Compensation: Non-tribal settler families (primarily descendants of exservicemen settled between 1969-1975) are protesting \'unreasonably low\' compensation rates. Under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013, they are being offered ₹113–₹180 per sq. metre, contrasted sharply with ₹11,370–₹20,500 per sq. metre provided for tourism-related acquisitions in the Andaman islands. • Double Displacement of Ex-Servicemen: The affected community represents families originally brought to the island for strategic national security purposes. These families have already survived two major displacements—initial settlement and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami— and now face a third due to the 2026 airport and transshipment project. • Marginalization of PVTGs: The project necessitates the de-notification of approximately 84 sq. km of Tribal Reserve. This directly threatens the Shompen (a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group or PVTG) and the Great Nicobarese, whose nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle and cultural identity are tethered to these specific forests and coasts. • Procedural and Ethical Concerns: Reports highlight serious deficiencies in Social Impact Assessments (SIA) and violations of the Forest Rights Act (FRA). Critics allege that tribal consent is being obtained through \'coercion\' or \'voluntary surrender\' certificates, often signed by settler representatives rather than the tribes themselves. • The \'Settler-Tribal\' Contradiction: A complex socio-political dynamic has emerged where the settler community, while fighting for their own \'fair\' compensation, is seen as collaborating with authorities to alienate the ancestral lands of the Shompen and Nicobarese to facilitate the project. • Strategic vs. Democratic Interests: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) cleared the ₹92,000 crore project in February 2026, citing its \'strategic importance\' for Indo-Pacific security. However, this has intensified the debate over whether geopolitical goals are overriding the democratic rights and survival of the island\'s most vulnerable inhabitants. Key Definitions • RFCTLARR Act, 2013: The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, which mandates a humane and transparent process for land acquisition. • Circle Rates: The minimum price at which a property can be registered in government records; in Great Nicobar, these outdated rates are the primary cause of the compensation dispute. • PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group): A government classification for tribes characterized by a declining/stagnant population, low literacy, and a pre-agricultural level of technology (e.g., the Shompen). Constitutional & Legal Provisions • Article 244(1) & Fifth/Sixth Schedule: While the A&N Islands are governed by the President through an Administrator (Article 239), the spirit of tribal protection in these schedules is central to the legal challenges. • The A&N Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956: This provides the primary legal shield for tribal reserves, making their de-notification for \'developmental\' purposes a high-stakes legal battle. • Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006: Requires the recognition of forest dwelling rights and necessitates Gram Sabha consent before any forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes. • Section 11 of RFCTLARR Act: Relates to the preliminary notification of land acquisition, which in this case is being contested for bypassing rigorous Social Impact Assessments. Additional Important Keypoints • Strategic Location: Great Nicobar sits at the mouth of the Malacca Strait, a global maritime chokepoint. The project includes an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) to rival Singapore and Colombo. • Ecological Footprint: The project involves felling nearly one million trees in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, home to endemic species like the Nicobar Megapode and Leatherback turtles. • Demographic Shift: Projections suggest the island\'s population could surge from 8,500 to over 6.5 lakh by 2050, potentially leading to the \'submergence\' of indigenous cultures. Conclusion The Great Nicobar project epitomizes the \'Development vs. Rights\' dilemma. While its strategic necessity for India\'s maritime security in the Indo-Pacific is undeniable, the current implementation risks creating a hierarchy of suffering. By prioritizing \'circle rates\' for settlers and \'strategic necessity\' over tribal survival, the state faces a crisis of democratic legitimacy. A truly \'strategic\' autonomy must include the ethical preservation of its most unique human and biological heritage. UPSC Relevance • GS Paper I: Geographical features and their location; Changes in critical geographical features (flora and fauna); Social empowerment (Tribal issues). • GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development; Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (PVTGs); Statutory/Regulatory bodies (NGT). • GS Paper III: Infrastructure (Ports/Airports); Environment Impact Assessment (EIA); Internal Security (Strategic importance of A&N Islands).