India’s "HK" Project On Remote Island Sparks Alarm Among Tribes

India’s ambitious plan to transform Great Nicobar Island into a Hong Kong-like hub has sparked fears among its indigenous tribes, who see the project as a threat to their land, culture, and survival.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to some of the world’s most vulnerable indigenous tribes, including the Jarawas, North Sentinelese, Great Andamanese, Onge, and Shompen.

Anthropologist Anice Justin, who grew up in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, expressed concerns over the multi-billion-dollar development, reported Janhavee Moole for BBC News.

The $9 billion project, spanning 166 square kilometers, includes a transshipment harbor, a power plant, an airport, and a new township. Located near the strategic Strait of Malacca, the development aims to boost trade and tourism while housing an estimated 650,000 residents by its completion in 30 years.

However, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to some of the world’s most vulnerable indigenous tribes, including the Jarawas, North Sentinelese, Great Andamanese, Onge, and Shompen.

Many tribes, such as the Shompen, who are largely nomadic and live deep in the forest, face an existential threat from the project.

Justin, who has studied the islands since 1985, said, “The loss will be especially huge and traumatic for them. Whatever we call development in the outside world is not of interest to them. They have a traditional life of their own.”

While the government touts the project as a game-changer for international trade, critics argue it risks destroying the fragile ecosystem and the lives of the indigenous people who depend on it.