It's one of the world's most isolated islands. Here come the bulldozers
The Great Nicobar Island, one of the world's most isolated islands, is set to undergo a major transformation through the Great Nicobar Project. This development aims to create a bustling township with significant infrastructure, including an airport and a transshipment port. However, environmentalists express concerns about the potential destruction of natural habitats and the impact on indigenous communities.
- ▪The Great Nicobar Project will cover an area twice the size of Manhattan.
- ▪It aims to host a million tourists a year, significantly increasing the island's population.
- ▪Environmentalists warn that the project could lead to the destruction of habitats for endangered species.
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It's one of the world's most isolated islands. Here come the bulldozers June 7, 20267:51 AM ET By Omkar Khandekar , Leesha K Nair Apart from the indigenous people, the Great Nicobar island's population consists mainly of a few thousand settlers, who live in sleepy villages alongside dense forests. A major development project would dramatically alter the scene. Omkar Khandekar/NPR hide caption toggle caption Omkar Khandekar/NPR THE GREAT NICOBAR ISLAND, India — Fireflies illuminate the edge of a forest on the Great Nicobar Island as field biologist Sumit Kumar tries to find a particularly shy creature. A soft hoot wafts through the thicket. Kumar scans the trees with his flashlight: Sitting on a branch is a rare, wide-eyed, fat Nicobarese Scops owl.
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