The Project for Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island, a large-scale infrastructure project, is more folly than national gain. The project remains a purely commercial endeavour built on large-scale destruction of the ecologically pristine islands and the alienation of their indigenous people. In this edition of EPW Conversations, we speak with Pankaj Sekhsaria, researcher and author with three decades of work in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on the theme of ‘The Great Nicobar Project: A Holistic Folly.' The discussion delves into why the costs of such construction projects, especially in an ecologically vulnerable and tectonically volatile landscape, could be much higher than anticipated. To access our recent EPW #editorial on this matter, which explains why the economic logic and strategic relevance of the project are questionable, tap on the link below:
https://www.epw.in/journal/editorials/great-nicobar-project-holistic-folly.html