From ATI to Great Nicobar : Development Should Not Leave People Behind
From ATI to Great Nicobar : Development Should Not Leave People Behind By Debkumar Bhadra The NITI Aayog’s proposed Great Nicobar Island Project has once again brought the Andaman and Nicobar Islands into the national spotlight. As more voices join the debate, strong opinions are emerging from different quarters. Many, including the island’s settler population view the mega project comprising an international trans-shipment port, a township and a greenfield airport — as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well as for India’s strategic future. At the same time, there are opposing voices that fear irreversible ecological damage is in the offing in one of the most fragile island ecosystems. This article attempts to capture the predicament faced by islanders whose voices seems to be overshadowed by organised and well connected narratives dominating the discourse. For a region that has historically struggled with isolation, limited connectivity and ...