Great Nicobar Project: Environmental Clearance Controversy and CRZ Violations

The Hindu - Opinion · 6 Jun 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Environment Mains · GS3 Environment and biodiversity High relevance

The Environment Ministry admitted before the NGT that the ₹92,000 crore Great Nicobar project will significantly impact biodiversity, raising questions about CRZ-1A violations and the denotification of Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

Key points

Great Nicobar Project involves a transshipment port, airport, power plant, and township with ₹92,000 crore investment, facing legal challenges over environmental clearances.

Galathea Bay, the project site, hosts 20,000 live coral colonies, 50 Nicobar Megapode nests, and is a nesting site for Giant Leatherback turtles, all protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

CRZ-1A violations: The NGT noted in April 2023 that the port site falls under CRZ-1A, where ports are prohibited, but the NCSCM controversially concluded otherwise in a non-public report.

Denotification of Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in 2021 by the NBWL removed protections for critical biodiversity, facilitating the project's clearance.

[GS2-Governance] The Ministry's refusal to release NCSCM and HPC reports highlights transparency issues in environmental governance and decision-making processes.

[GS3-Environment] The project contradicts India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and its National Biodiversity Action Plan by prioritizing infrastructure over conservation.

Way Forward: India must enforce stricter CRZ compliance, mandate public disclosure of environmental impact assessments, and establish an independent oversight body for mega projects in ecologically sensitive areas.

Key terms

CRZ-1A

Coastal Regulation Zone-1A designates ecologically sensitive coastal areas with mangroves, coral reefs, and turtle nesting sites, where construction is highly restricted under the CRZ Notification 2011. For UPSC, this is critical for environmental governance questions in GS3.

National Green Tribunal (NGT)

A statutory body established under the NGT Act, 2010 for effective disposal of environmental cases. It has jurisdiction over all civil cases involving substantial environmental questions, making it vital for GS2 (Polity) and GS3 (Environment) topics.

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

The primary legislation for wildlife protection in India, providing schedules for protected species and creating institutions like NBWL. Schedule 1 species receive the highest protection, relevant for GS3 biodiversity conservation questions.

Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

A proposed sanctuary in Great Nicobar denotified in 2021 to facilitate the infrastructure project. Its case study exemplifies the conflict between development and conservation, a recurring theme in GS3 environment questions.