Great Nicobar Island (Geography)
Great Nicobar Island (Geography)
Why In News:
The debate around the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island project has resurfaced, with experts and conservationists highlighting the ecological risks of large-scale infrastructure development in one of India's biodiversity hotspots.
Strategic Importance of Great Nicobar Island:
Location: Great Nicobar is the southernmost island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. India's southernmost point, Indira Point, is located here.
Proximity to Malacca Strait: Great Nicobar sits at the western entrance of the Strait of Malacca — the world's most critical maritime chokepoint through which ~80% of China's oil imports pass.
Tri-Services Command: The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) — India's only integrated tri-services command — is headquartered in Port Blair, with Great Nicobar of critical importance for southern surveillance.
Project Scale: The Holistic Development plan includes a transshipment port, international airport, township, and a 450 MVA gas/solar power plant.
Key Facts for Prelims:
Indira Point: Southernmost tip of India at Great Nicobar. Submerged by ~4.25 metres during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) Admin: Union Territory with Lieutenant Governor. No state legislature — governed directly by the Centre.
PVTGs: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups — 75 PVTGs identified in India. The Shompen, Jarawa, and Sentinelese are among those in ANI.
Strait of Malacca: Located between Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Narrowest point: ~2.8 km near Singapore.