India's Great Nicobar Island is set for a massive infrastructure project that includes an airport, port, and tourist town. Critics warn of environmental devastation and threats to indigenous tribes.
The government cites strategic and economic benefits, but opponents say the costs are too high. - The project will cover an area twice the size of Manhattan and could host a million tourists a year.
- Endangered species like leatherback turtles and Nicobarese pigeons are at risk. - Indigenous Shompen and Nicobarese communities face displacement and cultural erosion.
- The project is also seen as a strategic move to counter China's influence in the Indian Ocean. Despite promises of jobs and development, the project has sparked legal challenges and widespread opposition from environmentalists and indigenous groups.