Draft master plan for Great Nicobar Island projects tourism as primary growth driver, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Draft master plan for Great Nicobar Island (GNI) development projects focuses on tourism as the primary economic driver.
• The plan aims for a projected population of 3.36 lakh by 2055, including 11,500 Nicobarese.
• The project includes an international container transshipment port, an airport, power plants, and a township.
• Local Nicobarese population withdrew consent due to unsettled forest rights, challenging the project in the Calcutta High Court.
• The project is expected to span 166.10 sq. km, with 40.8% designated as "urbanisable".

Detailed Insights:

• The draft master plan envisions developing the island as a "seaside destination" with various tourism models like wellness, beach, nature, adventure, business, and gaming tourism.
• The plan hints at developing the Pemmaya buffer area for possible tribal settlements, potentially conflicting with a relocation plan to shift tribes to Pulobhabi.
• The township will be divided into clusters: administrative, multi-modal logistic, and tourism/entertainment/processing clusters.
• The project requires diverting 121.86 sq km of forest areas, raising environmental concerns and potential ecological impact.
• The ₹92,000-crore mega-infrastructure project aims to create both permanent and temporary jobs to attract population settlement.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Transshipment Port: A port where cargo is transferred from one ship to another.
• Forest Rights: Rights of forest-dwelling communities to access, manage, and conserve forests.
• Sustainable Tourism: Tourism that minimizes environmental and cultural impact while benefiting local communities.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands