India plans multi-billion dollar development project on Great Nicobar Island

India is planning a multi-billion dollar development project on Great Nicobar Island, aiming to create a transshipment harbor, airport, and new township. This project, budgeted at 720 billion rupees ($9 billion), is intended to enhance trade routes in the Indian Ocean. The project has raised concerns among local tribes, particularly the Shompen people, who rely on the island's forests for survival. Experts warn that the development could threaten their way of life and lead to their extinction, echoing fears from previous displacements of other tribes. Environmentalists also highlight significant ecological risks, as the project could lead to the clearing of vast areas of rainforest, impacting local wildlife. The government claims it will not displace tribes or harm the environment, but skepticism remains among experts and local communities.