More than 2.13 lakh people have signed an online petition asking the Indian government to cancel its development plans for Great Nicobar Island. The petition was started on Change.org and reached this number by Friday night, May 22.
What is the Government Planning?
The government wants to build several big infrastructure projects on Great Nicobar Island — India’s southernmost island in the Andaman and Nicobar group. These include an international shipping port, a new airport, a township, and a power plant. The total cost of this plan is around ₹81,000 crore.
Why Are People Opposed?
People are worried about serious damage to nature and local communities. Here are the main concerns:
Massive deforestation: The project could result in cutting down around 9.6 lakh trees across 130 square kilometres of tropical forest.
Follow TJP Whatsapp ChannelThreat to wildlife: The port project will threaten biodiversity at Galathea Bay, on the southeastern part of the island.
Tribal communities at risk: The projects could displace and badly affect the indigenous Shompen and Nicobarese tribes who have lived there for centuries.
Poor impact studies: People say the projects lack proper ecological, social, and environmental impact assessments.
Natural disaster risk: The area sees high seismic activity and is vulnerable to tsunamis, making large construction especially dangerous.
Who Started the Petition?
The campaign is part of the “Save Earth — Stand for Change” initiative under Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) framework. The petition is addressed to the President, the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Environment.
What Does the Government Say?
The government sees the project as strategically important. Great Nicobar is located close to the Strait of Malacca — one of the world’s busiest shipping routes — and the plan aims to turn it into a major hub for maritime and air connectivity in the Indian Ocean region.
The debate between development and environmental protection on the island continues to grow.
Important Links
| Petition Starter | An initiative under Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam PURA |
| Petition Link | https://www.change.org/p/save-the-nicobars |
| Total Signature | 2,13,312 (As of 4:24 pm on May 23) |
