Great Nicobar Project: Draft plan to relocate’ affected Nicobarese families creates confusion

The draft plan outlining the “displacement” of Nicobar tribal communities affected by the Union government’s Greater Nicobar Island (GNH) mega infrastructure project to their “ancestral lands” has created confusion and further adds to existing concerns among locals. For four years, they have been protesting against the clearance of the Rs 92,000-crore project after withdrawing their approval in 2022, claiming that forest rights have not been resolved.

This draft “Comprehensive Tribal Welfare Plan”, prepared by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration and circulated for consultation with relevant departments and the Greater Nicobar Tribal Council on March 13, 2026, proposes an expenditure of ₹ 42.52 crore for “resettlement of Nicobar tribal communities from tsunami-affected or project-affected areas”, including housing, land development and basic services for 24 months. infrastructure.

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However, the details of where the proposed relocation would take place and who would be relocated confused members of the Greater and Lesser Nicobar Tribal Council, according to Nicobar community leaders who spoke with him. Hindu. They said they were given a copy of the draft plan on March 28, 2026, and have since been called to two meetings by the district administration, Campbell Bay, to sign off on the plan.

This came after the Union government told the Calcutta High Court Bench on March 30, 2026 that it needed 15 days to “show approval from the tribal people” for its project. This Board is hearing a number of petitions challenging the approval of the project on the grounds that it violates consent procedures and forest rights of Nicobarese and Shompen communities.

At a meeting on April 1, 2026, the Tribal Council submitted a letter stating that some aspects of the draft were unclear and requested a Hindi translation so that all members could understand and discuss it. They said they would need at least a month to review the translated document before discussing it further.

While the draft plan states that the GNI project “involves displacement”, the Center has repeatedly said that the project “will not disturb or displace tribals”.

Uncertain relocation plans

The plan was drawn up after Tribal Council leaders requested the return of ancestral villages destroyed in the 2004 tsunami on the GNI’s west coast, shifting the communities to camps in Rajiv Nagar and New Chingenh near Campbell Bay, according to a letter included in the draft.

However, the draft plan states, “The project involves relocation to Rajiv Nagar (32 households, 101 people) and New Chingenh (30 households, 117 people).”

Part of the plan proposes Pulobhabi to be used with “common assets” for residents of Rajiv Nagar to “facilitate periodic visits to ancestral lands” for “community purposes” and “an option will remain open” for families to return to their ancestral villages outside the project area.

The plan notes requests for New Chingenh residents to return to Old Chingenh and Pulo Baha, but states that the final decision will be taken after assessing land availability and consultations, and that existing accommodation will be upgraded.

Additionally, the plan lists all the families in Rajiv Nagar and New Chingenh (62 families in total) and then states: “Proposed resettlement area: Pulobhabi, west coast of GNI.”

The tables in the draft further add to the uncertainty: an allocation is made for the improvement of 62 houses and the construction of only 30 new houses, while another section states that “permanent shelters will be constructed for all 62 households” – neither section clearly states where these houses will be located. District officials have not yet responded Hinduquestions about what exactly the plan proposes.

“Not just Pulobhabi”

A leader of the Tribal Council said Pulobhabi was just one of several ancestral village sites and that only 13 of the pre-tsunami Nicobar villages were listed in the proposal, whereas there were many more.

Barnabas Manju, chairman of the Greater and Lesser Nicobar Tribal Council in New Delhi on March 20, said the community had long been demanding the return of all ancestral villages on the west coast since the displacement in 2004.

Shortly after the project was granted Phase I permission in 2022, the community withdrew their approval out of fear that parts of it would encroach on their forest lands, including their ancestral villages, preventing their return. Council leaders say concerns have been exacerbated by management’s failure to clearly explain project boundaries; the council mentioned this complaint in an April 1 letter stating that the draft map was “not clear.”

Forest Rights

Nicobar communities alleged that the administration had “erroneously” certified that their rights under the Forest Rights Act 2006 had been determined and resolved, even though the procedure had never been initiated. This situation was reiterated in the Council’s letter of 1 April.

While the draft states that its provisions have been drawn up under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 and the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act 1956, there is no mention of rights under the Forest Rights Act 2006.

It was published – 03 April 2026 18:46 IST