{"id":7086,"date":"2025-01-07T10:55:47","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T05:25:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/exams\/?p=7086"},"modified":"2026-02-24T12:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T07:22:14","slug":"union-shipping-ministry-great-nicobar-island-project-9341","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/union-shipping-ministry-great-nicobar-island-project-9341\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Shipping Ministry Great Nicobar Island Project"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Union Ministry of Shipping came up with a development plan especially on Great Nicobar Island to form a global port-centric city and discover the top-end tourists destination. The cost of the project has been estimated to be \u20b972,000 crore and the proposed infrastructure includes an international cruise terminal, a ship-breaking yard, a defense-civilian airport. While it has claimed for economic change, it has led to much controversy because of the negative impact to the environment, strategic consequences, and insufficient openness.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Key Points&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">A proposal for which was made by the Union Shipping Ministry in the year 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Budget: \u20b972,000 crore.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is designed to construct a world city anchored in a major port city and premium travelling destination.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Key components: An international cruise terminal facility, ship-breaking yard, military-civil airport and a container transshipment port at Galathea Bay.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is a greenfield township spread across 130sq km in pristine forests.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">These sectors are run by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Ltd (ANIIDCO).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Recent Developments<\/span><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In April 2024 the Ministry of Shipping planned to purchase 100 acres of extra land in Campbell Bay for ship repair and shipbuilding. They also recommended that Campbell Bay should be earmarked as an export-import port in order to efficiently feed construction materials for the trans-shipment terminal.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Andaman and Nicobar Group of Islands: Key Facts<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Location and Extent<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Geographical Position: Located in southern part of India, in the Bay of Bengal.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Coordinates: Stretch across latitude&nbsp; 6&deg; 45&prime; N to 13&deg; 41&prime; N latitude and 92&deg; 12&prime; E to 93&deg; 57&prime; E longitude.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Size: with total length of approx 590 km and width of about 58 kms.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Andaman Islands<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Area: 260km x 30 km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Sub-Groups:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">North Andaman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Middle Andaman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">South Andaman<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Nicobar Islands<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Area: It stretches to a length of 262 km and is 58 km at its widest point and has an area of 1, 653 sq km.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Sub-Groups:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Northern Group: Includes Car Nicobar and Battimalv.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Central Group: Chowra, Katchal, Camorta, Trinket, and Nancowry are among the large islands in the group.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Southern Group: Includes Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar, Kondul and other islands.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Prominent Feature:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Great Nicobar: Greatest and last island of the chain and only 147 km from Indonesia on the island of Sumatra.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Indira Point: This a spot referred to as the southernmost region of India.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Habitation: Of them, only 12 islands are populated by ethnic groups such as the Nicobarese and Shompen.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Physical Characteristics<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Separation:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman Island from the Nicobar Island.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Terrain and Composition:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The formation of the reservoir originated from volcanic activities hence consists of tertiary sand stone limestone and shale.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Volcanic Islands: Barren Island an active volcanic region and Narcondam Island.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Coral Island: It comprises mainly of coral islands most of which are of mountainous nature.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Highest Peak: Saddle Peak is at a height of 737 meters in the district of North Andaman.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Other Notable Features<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Island Name Changes (2018):<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Ross Island &rarr;Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Neil Island &rarr; Shaheed Dweep<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Swaraj Dweep &rarr; Havelock Island<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Environmental Concerns<\/span><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The local authorities have received a lot of criticisms from the environmental conscious personnel who noted that the project may pose a great threat to the ecosystem. Much of coastline is under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) which will protect Coral reefs and other marine life. The opposition&rsquo;s main complaint is that mega projects threaten to permanently alter the ecosystems of unspoiled forest and ocean.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">ANIIDCO indicated competition between the proposed ship repair facilities and tourism development;, indicating that the process of industrialization as well as ecological conservation entails certain contradictions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Conflicting Objectives<\/span><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Two parallel discourses of strategic security and economical development contributed to the emergence of paradox. While the government uses the threat of national security to control information flow, concentrating on the hi-tech tourism and cruise terminal may lead the island to an open forum where it can be influenced internationally. Critics state that such development go against decades of conservation policies intended to maintain Great Nicobar as remote and natural island.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Besides, the local government&rsquo;s position and the public response have also been explored. The Andaman and Nicobar administration has expressed an agreeable but cautious stand towards the project but recommends hiring professionals who will evaluate the possibility of some of the proposed aspects such as the cruise terminal. They also want more consideration given to the export-import port proposal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">At the same time, the public continues to be divided. The environmental and social impacts to the project have been so commented on by local residents as well as conservationists. They have been subjected to legal suits and activist pressure demanding an understanding of the feasibility of the project&rsquo;s operation and respect for the law of ecology.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Conclusion<\/span><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Great Nicobar initiative represents an audacious plan to mobilize the area into an economic strident and strategic plan. However, its success hinges on reconciling competing priorities: benefitting development, security, and environment sustainability. Embracing the principles of transparency and shareholder&#39;s involvement in decision-making will be the key to not falling victim to the imperialist dream of the Great Nicobar construction in terms of losing the priceless value of its geological and ethnographic specificity utterly.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Union Ministry of Shipping came up with a development plan especially on Great Nicobar Island to form a global port-centric city and discover the top-end tourists destination. The cost of the project has been estimated to be \u20b972,000 crore and the proposed infrastructure includes an international cruise terminal, a ship-breaking yard, a defense-civilian airport. While [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7086"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7104,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086\/revisions\/7104"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}