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Key Points

Prime Minister Modi shared an article by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav about the Great Nicobar Island development project. The ambitious plan aims to create a major maritime and air connectivity hub in the Indian Ocean region. The project includes an international container terminal, airport, and power plant spanning over 16,000 hectares. However, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has raised concerns about ecological threats and dangers to indigenous tribal communities.

Key Points: PM Modi Shares Bhupender Yadav Column on Great Nicobar Island Project

  • Project includes international container terminal with 14.2M TEU capacity
  • Features greenfield airport and 450 MVA power plant
  • Opposition cites threat to tribal communities and ecosystem
  • Strategic defense importance in Indian Ocean Region emphasized
3 min read

Great Nicobar Island project will transform region into major maritime hub: PM Modi shares column  

PM Modi highlights Great Nicobar Island's transformation into a strategic maritime hub, as Bhupender Yadav defends project against Congress ecological concerns

"The project is designed to transform Great Nicobar into a major hub of maritime and air connectivity - Bhupender Yadav"

New Delhi, Sep 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shared an article on the Great Nicobar Island Project, highlighting its significance and also the strategic edge that the mammoth project will bring to the region in the Indian Ocean. The ambitious scheme has drawn sharp criticism from Congress, which has described it as a 'major threat' to the ecological balance of the region.

The Prime Minister described the project as one of strategic, defence and national importance and said that this will transform the region into a major hub of maritime and air connectivity in the Indian Ocean Region.

Taking to X, the PMO shared an article penned by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and wrote, “Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav explains that the Great Nicobar Island Project, which is of strategic, defence and national importance, transforms the region into a major hub of maritime and air connectivity in the Indian Ocean Region. He highlights it as a prime example of economy and ecology complementing each other.”

Bhupendra Yadav, the Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on Friday penned an article in a leading daily about the advantages of the Great Nicobar project while also affirming the Modi government’s commitment to promoting economy and ecology together.

“The decision to develop Great Nicobar Island has been taken after due consideration of its ecological, social and strategic aspects,” he said in a post on X while sharing a detailed explainer on the contentious project.

He informed that the Great Nicobar Island Project is an ambitious project with an integrated development plan that comprises an international container transhipment terminal (ICTT) with a capacity of 14.2 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit), a greenfield international airport, a 450 MVA gas and solar-based power plant, and a township of an area of 16,610 hectares.

“The project is designed to transform Great Nicobar into a major hub of maritime and air connectivity in the Indian Ocean Region and poses no threat to the island’s tribal groups, does not come in the way of any species, and does not jeopardise the eco-sensitivity of the region,” the Union Minister explained, while brushing aside Opposition’s reservations over the project.

Days ago, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi penned a column on the Great Nicobar Island Project and raised concerns that it threatens "one of the world's most unique flora and fauna ecosystems and is highly susceptible to natural disasters".

"The totally misplaced Rs 72,000 crore expenditure poses an existential danger to the Island's indigenous tribal communities," she stated.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While development is important, I hope they've done proper environmental impact assessment. Andaman & Nicobar islands have unique biodiversity that must be protected.
A
Aditya G
This will create so many job opportunities and boost our maritime capabilities. India needs to strengthen its presence in the Indian Ocean region. Good strategic thinking!
S
Sarah B
I appreciate that the government is thinking about both economy and ecology. Hope they maintain the balance as promised. The tribal communities' rights must be respected.
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Vikram M
72,000 crore is a huge amount! While I support infrastructure development, we need transparency on how this money will be spent. Hope it doesn't become another white elephant project.
N
Nisha Z
This is exactly what India needs - forward-looking infrastructure projects. The Chinese have been building islands in South China Sea, we need to secure our maritime interests too! 👏

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