Why in the news?

  • Tribal representatives’ body complains to the Minister of Tribal Affairs saying Andaman and Nicobar administration gave a ‘false’ report to Centre stating that tribespeople’s rights under FRA were settled with regard to diversion of forest land for the ₹72,000-cr. project.

Great Nicobar Island Development Project

  • Aim: To transform the island into a global port-led hub, emphasizing strategic, economic, and eco-tourism development.
  • Vision
    • Create a “Global Port-Led City” with high-end tourism and strategic infrastructure.
    • Boost India’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region by leveraging the island’s geostrategic location.
  • Major Components
    • International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP): Proposed at Galathea Bay to enhance India’s maritime trade and reduce reliance on foreign ports.
    • Greenfield Township: Spread across 130 sq. km, incorporating eco-tourism facilities.
    • Airport and Power Plant: A dual-use military-civil airport under Indian Navy control.
    • Shipbuilding and Repair Yard: Proposed at Campbell Bay with 100 acres of land and a 500-meter seafront.
  • Clearances and Implementation
    • Forest Clearance: Stage I clearance granted in October 2022 for 130 sq. km of forest land.
    • Environmental Clearances: Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance granted in November 2022.
    • Executing Agency: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).
  • Impact of the Project on Indigenous Communities
    • Displacement: Indigenous communities face loss of ancestral lands due to deforestation and construction.
    • Livelihood Threats: Traditional fishing, hunting, and farming practices are at risk due to habitat destruction.
    • Cultural Erosion: Sacred sites and spiritual traditions are endangered by the development.
    • Marginalization: Economic displacement and forced assimilation may lead to further marginalization.
    • Rights Ignored: Lack of consultation and exclusion from decision-making undermine indigenous autonomy.
  • Common Positive Impacts
    • Boosts regional and national economic growth through infrastructure development.
    • Generates employment in construction, tourism, and ancillary sectors.
    • Strengthens India’s strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
    • Enhances eco-tourism potential and attracts international tourists.
  • Common Negative Impacts
    • Irreversible ecological damage and loss of biodiversity.
    • Social alienation and marginalization of local communities.
    • Increases vulnerability to natural disasters due to ecological imbalance.

Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006

  • Other Name: The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act.
  • Aim: To recognize and vest forest rights and occupation in forest land to forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other traditional forest dwellers (OTFDs), who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights have not been recorded.
  • Features
    • Recognition of Forest Rights: The Act recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers to live in and cultivate forest land for habitation or self-cultivation.
    • Vesting of Rights: It provides for the vesting of forest rights and occupation in forest land to eligible individuals and communities.
    • Types of Rights: The Act recognizes various types of rights, including land rights, ownership rights, habitat rights, and community forest rights.
    • Process of Recognition: The Act outlines the process for the recognition and verification of forest rights by the concerned authorities at the gram sabha (village assembly) level.
    • Appeals and Grievance Redressal: It establishes mechanisms for filing appeals and resolving grievances related to the recognition of forest rights.
    • Protection of Forests and Wildlife: While recognizing the rights of forest dwellers, the Act also emphasizes the conservation and protection of forests, wildlife, and biodiversity.