Tourism and trade: On the Great Nicobar mega-infrastructure project

Consensus (सहमति, सर्वसम्मति) is vital (अत्यावश्यक, अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण) in leveraging the strategic (रणनीतिक) importance of Nicobar

The Union government’s ₹92,000 crore mega-infrastructure project for the holistic (समग्र, सर्वांगीण) development (विकास) of the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) (the southernmost island of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in India, recognized for its rich ecological diversity and native tribal populations; Nicobar territory/archipelago) by building it up as a port and tourism-led economy has gathered speed in the last six months, even as (at the very same time that something else is happening; while, whilst, simultaneously, at the same time) concerns (चिंता) remain about its impact on the Island’s ecology (पारिस्थितिकी) and the rights (अधिकार) of local populations, the Nicobarese (the indigenous communities native to the Nicobar Islands) and the Shompen (a particularly vulnerable, indigenous forest-dwelling tribal community living in the deep interiors of Great Nicobar Island) — two indigenous (स्वदेशी, मूल निवासी) tribal groups. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration (प्रशासन) has notified a draft (a preliminary version of a policy, document, or plan; preliminary version, rough sketch, outline, blueprint) master plan for the project. Apart from the International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP), the airport, and power plants, the draft master plan envisions (कल्पना करना, परिकल्पना करना) developing the GNI as a “seaside destination in a pristine (in its original, untouched condition; immaculate, unspoiled, perfect, pure), unspoilt, protected environment (पर्यावरण)”, outlining (रूपरेखा प्रस्तुत करना) plans for business, adventure, biodiversity (जैव विविधता) tourism, family entertainment, amusement parks (a commercially operated park with rides, games, and entertainment attractions; theme park, entertainment park), etc., along with (in addition to someone or something else; together with, accompanying, besides, coupled with) adequate social infrastructure (fundamental facilities and systems that support the community, such as healthcare, housing, and education; civic facilities, public amenities, community infrastructure) for healthcare, education, and livelihood (a means of securing the necessities of life and generating income; income, living, sustenance, source of income). The draft is planned for a projected (forecast, estimated, predicted, expected) population of over 3.36 lakh by 2055, by which time (at the point in the future when a previously mentioned event occurs; when, at that moment, upon which, then) the expected tourist inflow (a large influx of money, people, or resources into a specific place; influx, entry, arrival) will be a million a year. Over 70% of the direct employment the government hopes to create will be in tourism and allied (associated, related, connected, affiliated) sectors. The current population of the GNI is a little less than 10,000. This transformation (change, alteration, modification, metamorphosis, overhaul) of the GNI, aided by the ICTP, is crucial to leverage (लाभ उठाना, फ़ायदा उठाना) the “strategic importance (the crucial value of a location or project in achieving long-term geopolitical or military objectives; geopolitical significance)” of the Island’s location at the western entrance to the Malacca Strait (a narrow, highly critical global shipping lane situated between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, essential for international maritime trade). The draft plan has said the port will help India achieve its “aims to capture a significant share in global sea trade”.

But while the administration has sought public suggestions and objections (formal feedback, inputs, or complaints invited from citizens regarding a proposed government policy; feedback, comments) for 30 days, it remains unclear (uncertain, vague, obscure, ambiguous) till when this window (a brief period or opportunity for doing or achieving something; opportunity, opening, chance, timeframe) will remain open, given (taking into account; considering, bearing in mind, in view of, taking into consideration) that the draft does not mention when it was notified. This draft plan follows another draft plan to relocate local Nicobarese communities to make way for (accommodate, clear a path for, step aside for, yield to) the project. The two plans seemingly (apparently, outwardly, ostensibly, supposedly) contradict (to conflict with, challenge, or go against; oppose, counter, dispute) each other with regard to (concerning or in respect of; regarding, respecting, relating to) where existing populations may be relocated, which has renewed (restarted, revived, restored, re-established) fears among these groups. These communities have been opposing the project’s clearance (permission, authorization, consent, approval) since 2022, alleging (claim, assert, charge, accuse) that their forest rights had not been settled. While the National Green Tribunal (a specialized judicial tribunal established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 in India, tasked with the swift and effective disposal of cases related to environmental protection and the conservation of forests) has set aside (dismiss, reject, rule against, annul, overrule, quash) concerns about the project’s impact on the GNI’s biodiversity by citing its “strategic importance”, a challenge (objection, opposition, dispute, protest) to the project’s clearances remains in the Calcutta High Court. Some have also questioned the project’s commercial and naval (maritime, sea-based, nautical, fleet) merits (worth, value, justification, validity). Considering that the project aims to irreversibly alter the demography (the statistical characteristics and composition of a population in a specific area; population structure, demographic profile, population dynamics), and ecology of the GNI, the most prudent (acting with careful consideration and thought for the future; wise, sensible, cautious, judicious) path for the government is to take the time needed to build a more holistic consensus over it.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.consensus (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सहमति, सर्वसम्मति
English Meaning - a general agreement among different stakeholders or groups; agreement, concurrence, unanimity.

2.vital (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अत्यावश्यक, अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण
English Meaning - absolutely necessary or important for a specific outcome; essential, crucial, critical, imperative.

3.leverage (verb)

Hindi Meaning - लाभ उठाना, फ़ायदा उठाना
English Meaning - to use something to its maximum advantage; utilize, exploit, capitalize on, make the most of.

4.strategic (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - रणनीतिक
English Meaning - relating to the gaining of long-term military, economic, or political advantage; calculated, planned.

5.holistic (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - समग्र, सर्वांगीण
English Meaning - characterized by treating the whole of something rather than merely dealing with its individual parts; comprehensive, integrated, all-inclusive, complete.

6.development (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विकास
English Meaning - growth, expansion, progress, advancement.

7.biodiversity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जैव विविधता
English Meaning - the rich variety of plant and animal life thriving in a particular habitat or ecosystem; biological diversity, flora and fauna, wildlife variety, ecological richness.

8.concern (noun)

Hindi Meaning - चिंता
English Meaning - worry, apprehension, issue, anxiety.

9.ecology (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पारिस्थितिकी
English Meaning - the relationship between living organisms and their physical surroundings in a particular area; environment, nature, biosphere, ecosystem.

10.right (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अधिकार
English Meaning - a moral or legal entitlement belonging to a person or community; entitlement, privilege, prerogative.

11.indigenous (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - स्वदेशी, मूल निवासी
English Meaning - originating or occurring naturally in a particular geographical place; native, aboriginal, original, local.

12.administration (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रशासन
English Meaning - government, authorities, bureaucracy, regime.

13.envision (verb)

Hindi Meaning - कल्पना करना, परिकल्पना करना
English Meaning - conceptualize, imagine, picture, foresee.

14.environment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पर्यावरण
English Meaning - the natural world or the physical surroundings in a specific geographical area; surroundings, nature, ecosystem, habitat.

15.outline (verb)

Hindi Meaning - रूपरेखा प्रस्तुत करना
English Meaning - indicate, summarize, draft, give a rough idea of.

16.along with (phrase)

English Meaning - in addition to someone or something else; together with, accompanying, besides, coupled with.

17.build up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - develop, expand, grow.

18.Great Nicobar Island (GNI) (noun)

English Meaning - the southernmost island of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in India, recognized for its rich ecological diversity and native tribal populations; Nicobar territory/archipelago.

19.mega-infrastructure (noun)

English Meaning - extremely large-scale, high-cost public or private construction projects aimed at transforming regions; large-scale public projects.

20.gather speed (phrase)

English Meaning - to move or progress faster; accelerate, quicken, speed up, gain momentum.

21.even as (phrase)

English Meaning - at the very same time that something else is happening; while, whilst, simultaneously, at the same time.

22.Nicobarese (noun)

English Meaning - the indigenous communities native to the Nicobar Islands.

23.Shompen (noun)

English Meaning - a particularly vulnerable, indigenous forest-dwelling tribal community living in the deep interiors of Great Nicobar Island.

24.draft (noun)

English Meaning - a preliminary version of a policy, document, or plan; preliminary version, rough sketch, outline, blueprint.

25.International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) (noun)

English Meaning - a proposed major maritime infrastructure initiative at Galathea Bay, designed to handle immense cargo capacities and serve as a crucial hub for international shipping.

26.Galathea Bay (proper noun)

English Meaning - an ecologically fragile coastal region and inlet on the southeastern coast of Great Nicobar Island, known as a critical nesting site for endangered giant leatherback turtles and the proposed site for the massive International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP).

27.pristine (adjective)

English Meaning - in its original, untouched condition; immaculate, unspoiled, perfect, pure.

28.unspoilt (adjective)

English Meaning - untouched, natural, preserved, intact.

29.adventure (noun)

English Meaning - escapade, expedition, thrill.

30.amusement park (noun)

English Meaning - a commercially operated park with rides, games, and entertainment attractions; theme park, entertainment park.

31.social infrastructure (noun)

English Meaning - fundamental facilities and systems that support the community, such as healthcare, housing, and education; civic facilities, public amenities, community infrastructure.

32.livelihood (noun)

English Meaning - a means of securing the necessities of life and generating income; income, living, sustenance, source of income.

33.projected (adjective)

English Meaning - forecast, estimated, predicted, expected.

34.by which time (phrase)

English Meaning - at the point in the future when a previously mentioned event occurs; when, at that moment, upon which, then.

35.inflow (noun)

English Meaning - a large influx of money, people, or resources into a specific place; influx, entry, arrival.

36.allied (adjective)

English Meaning - associated, related, connected, affiliated.

37.transformation (noun)

English Meaning - change, alteration, modification, metamorphosis, overhaul.

38.aid (verb)

English Meaning - assist, support, facilitate, promote.

39.strategic importance (noun)

English Meaning - the crucial value of a location or project in achieving long-term geopolitical or military objectives; geopolitical significance.

40.Malacca Strait (noun)

English Meaning - a narrow, highly critical global shipping lane situated between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, essential for international maritime trade.

41.strait (noun)

English Meaning - a naturally formed, narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies of water, often holding significant strategic and commercial value; channel, sea passage, waterway.

42.sought past tense of seek (verb)

English Meaning - attempt to find, obtain, or ask for something; ask for, request.

43.public (noun/adjective)

English Meaning - ordinary people in general forming a society or community; citizens, population, community, society.

44.suggestions and objections (phrase)

English Meaning - formal feedback, inputs, or complaints invited from citizens regarding a proposed government policy; feedback, comments.

45.suggestion (noun)

English Meaning - recommendation, advice.

46.objection (noun)

English Meaning - complaint, grievance, opposition.

47.unclear (adjective)

English Meaning - uncertain, vague, obscure, ambiguous.

48.window (noun)

English Meaning - a brief period or opportunity for doing or achieving something; opportunity, opening, chance, timeframe.

49.given (preposition)

English Meaning - taking into account; considering, bearing in mind, in view of, taking into consideration.

50.make way for (phrase)

English Meaning - accommodate, clear a path for, step aside for, yield to.

51.seemingly (adverb)

English Meaning - apparently, outwardly, ostensibly, supposedly.

52.contradict (verb)

English Meaning - to conflict with, challenge, or go against; oppose, counter, dispute.

53.with regard to (phrase)

English Meaning - concerning or in respect of; regarding, respecting, relating to.

54.renewed (adjective)

English Meaning - restarted, revived, restored, re-established.

55.clearance (noun)

English Meaning - permission, authorization, consent, approval.

56.allege (verb)

English Meaning - claim, assert, charge, accuse.

57.settle (verb)

English Meaning - resolve, clear up, sort out, conclude.

58.National Green Tribunal (noun)

English Meaning - a specialized judicial tribunal established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 in India, tasked with the swift and effective disposal of cases related to environmental protection and the conservation of forests.

59.set aside (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - dismiss, reject, rule against, annul, overrule, quash.

60.cite (verb)

English Meaning - quote, refer to, point to, mention.

61.challenge (noun)

English Meaning - objection, opposition, dispute, protest.

62.naval (adjective)

English Meaning - maritime, sea-based, nautical, fleet.

63.merit (noun)

English Meaning - worth, value, justification, validity.

64.irreversibly (adverb)

English Meaning - permanently, irreparably, irrevocably, unalterably.

65.demography (noun)

English Meaning - the statistical characteristics and composition of a population in a specific area; population structure, demographic profile, population dynamics.

66.prudent (adjective)

English Meaning - acting with careful consideration and thought for the future; wise, sensible, cautious, judicious.