The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a chain of over 500 islands in the Bay of Bengal with tropical forests, coral reefs, mangroves and beaches, and home to indigenous communities including the Jarawa, the Shompen and the Sentinelese, whose areas are protected as tribal reserves. Coastal development is governed not by the general CRZ Notification but by the Island Protection Zone Notification, 2019, which provides for integrated island management plans. Most land is forest, so forest clearance is central to any project. Tourism in places such as Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) and Shaheed Dweep (Neil) has grown quickly.
The large Great Nicobar development project, involving a transshipment port, airport, township and power plant, received environmental and forest clearances and has been the subject of NGT proceedings, in which the Tribunal declined to set aside the clearance but directed a high-powered committee to examine certain concerns, and of continuing public debate. Establishments deal with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Pollution Control Committee. Because the islands are a Union territory, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 applies. We advise clients through online consultation, with local counsel on brief.
हिंदी में सारांश
अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीपसमूह 500 से ज़्यादा द्वीपों की श्रृंखला है, जहाँ उष्णकटिबंधीय वन, प्रवाल भित्तियाँ, मैंग्रोव और जारवा, शोम्पेन जैसे आदिवासी समुदाय हैं। तटीय विकास पर सामान्य CRZ नहीं बल्कि द्वीप संरक्षण क्षेत्र (IPZ) अधिसूचना, 2019 लागू है। ग्रेट निकोबार परियोजना पर NGT में कार्यवाही हुई। नियामक अंडमान और निकोबार प्रदूषण नियंत्रण समिति है, और केंद्र शासित प्रदेश होने से 2024 का जल अधिनियम संशोधन लागू है।
Is this your situation?
- Your resort or tourism project needs IPZ clearance
- Your project involves forest land on an island
- Your project is near a tribal reserve or marine park
- Your establishment needs consent from the pollution control committee
- You received a penalty inquiry under the amended Water Act
- You are involved in Great Nicobar related works
- You need to file before the NGT in Kolkata
Andaman and Nicobar at a glance
Regulator
Andaman and Nicobar Islands Pollution Control Committee.
NGT bench
Eastern Zone Bench at Kolkata.
High Court
Calcutta High Court, Port Blair circuit bench.
Coastal rules
Island Protection Zone Notification, 2019.
Forests
Most land is forest; forest clearance is central.
Tribal reserves
Strict protection of indigenous communities' areas.
The Island Protection Zone
The Island Protection Zone Notification, 2019 governs coastal regulation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. It provides for Integrated Island Management Plans that classify coastal areas into zones, with no-development zones from the high tide line that vary by island, restrictions on activities in ecologically sensitive areas such as coral reefs and mangroves, and conditions for tourism, fisheries and infrastructure. Projects need clearance from the Union territory coastal zone management authority or the environment ministry depending on the project. Resorts and homestays should check the plan for their island before investing. See CRZ clearance.
Forests, tribal reserves and marine parks
Forest covers most of the islands, and diversion of forest land for any non-forest use needs central approval. Tribal reserves for the Jarawa, Shompen, Onge and Sentinelese are protected under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, with strict restrictions on entry and activity, and the Supreme Court has acted against tourism that intruded on the Jarawa reserve. Marine protected areas such as Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park and Rani Jhansi Marine National Park protect coral reefs. Projects near these areas face very high scrutiny.
Great Nicobar
The Great Nicobar project covers a large part of the island's south, including forest diversion of a substantial area, a transshipment port at Galathea Bay, an airport and a township. Concerns have been raised about tree felling, coral reefs, leatherback turtle nesting, the Shompen and Nicobarese communities, and seismic risk. The NGT, in 2023, declined to interfere with the environmental clearance but directed a high-powered committee to revisit some aspects. Contractors and suppliers involved in related works should ensure strict compliance with clearance conditions.
How we help clients in the islands
Review documents online
Land status, IPZ plan, clearances and notices.
Map the approvals
IPZ, forest, wildlife, tribal and pollution.
Draft applications and replies
For the committee and other authorities.
Defend penalty inquiries
Under the amended Water Act.
Handle NGT matters
At the Eastern Zone Bench in Kolkata.
Coordinate local counsel
For hearings in Port Blair.
Tourism, waste and water
Island tourism brings waste and water stress. Hotels and resorts need consent where required, must treat sewage, manage solid waste, which often has to be shipped back to the mainland, and use desalinated or limited fresh water carefully. Single-use plastics are restricted. Since the islands are a Union territory, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 applies, and Water Act contraventions lead to penalties by adjudicating officers. See environmental penalty defence.
Time and typical cost
Our fees are agreed in writing at the start, stage by stage. They are not linked to the outcome.
| Stage | Usual time | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Online review | 2 to 5 days | Our fee |
| IPZ clearance | Months | Coastal authority or MoEFCC |
| Forest clearance | Months | Central process |
| Penalty inquiry | Generally within six months under the 2024 rules | Our fee |
| NGT appeal at Kolkata | Within 30 days, extendable by up to 60 | Our fee; local counsel |
Regulators and forums in the islands
| Matter | Body |
|---|---|
| Consents and pollution | Andaman and Nicobar Islands Pollution Control Committee |
| Coastal projects | UT coastal zone management authority and MoEFCC |
| Forest and wildlife | UT forest department, MoEFCC and NBWL |
| Tribal reserves | UT administration under the 1956 Regulation |
| Environmental appeals | NGT Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata |
| Writs and other matters | Calcutta High Court, Port Blair bench |
Documents usually needed
Project
- Project layout and details
- IPZ and forest proposals
Land
- Land status and island management plan extract
Enforcement
- Notices and inquiry papers
- Correspondence with authorities
Laws that apply
Coastal regulation for the islands.
Forest clearance.
Tribal reserves.
Applies to Union territories; penalties and adjudication.
How we work
We are a litigation and advisory practice led by Advocate BK Singh, with offices in Dwarka (New Delhi) and Vaishali (Ghaziabad). This is what you can expect:
- Online consultation: quick review of your documents.
- Island rules covered: IPZ, forests and tribal reserves.
- Penalty inquiries handled: under the amended Water Act.
- NGT Kolkata matters: coordinated through our network.
- Written fee terms: agreed stage by stage, never linked to the outcome.
Mistakes we see in the islands
- Applying general CRZ rules instead of the IPZ
- Assuming land is not forest
- Tourism near tribal reserves
- Damaging coral reefs during construction
- Filing NGT matters in Delhi instead of Kolkata
A beach resort on Swaraj Dweep
Here's a made-up example. An investor planned cottages on Swaraj Dweep near a beach.
We checked the island management plan, which placed part of the plot within the no-development zone, and the land's forest status. The cottages were redesigned on the permissible area, with sewage treatment and waste shipment arrangements, and IPZ clearance was sought.
Disaster risk and the 2004 tsunami
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated parts of the islands, especially the Nicobars, and changed coastlines. The islands lie in a seismically active zone, so building rules, coastal setbacks and the Island Protection Zone's no-development zones reflect disaster risk as well as ecology. Resorts and homes near the coast should consider tsunami and cyclone risk in design and location, and follow building and coastal rules. Insurers and lenders may ask about these risks.
Fisheries, timber and local livelihoods
Fishing is a major livelihood, and marine protected areas restrict fishing in certain zones. Timber extraction was stopped by Supreme Court orders in 2002, which sharply limited felling in the islands' forests, and forest produce use is controlled. Settlers, indigenous communities and newer migrants all depend on limited land and resources. Projects that affect fishing grounds or forest use should consult affected communities and follow the rules on marine and forest protection.
Questions before a project in the islands
- What does the island management plan say about the site?
- Is the land forest, and does it need clearance?
- Is the site near a tribal reserve or marine park?
- How will waste and sewage be handled?
- Will the unit face Water Act penalties if consent lapses?
- Which NGT bench and High Court bench will hear any dispute?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which regulator handles the islands?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Pollution Control Committee.
Where are NGT cases from the islands heard?
At the Eastern Zone Bench in Kolkata.
Which High Court?
The Calcutta High Court, Port Blair circuit bench.
Do CRZ rules apply?
The Island Protection Zone Notification, 2019 applies instead.
Is most land forest?
Yes, so forest clearance is usually needed.
Are tribal reserves protected?
Yes, strictly, under the 1956 Regulation.
What is the Great Nicobar project?
A large port, airport and township project with contested environmental issues.
Does the 2024 Water Act amendment apply?
Yes, it applies to Union territories.
Do you have an office in the islands?
No; we work online with local counsel on brief.
Can you handle NGT Kolkata matters?
Yes, coordinated through our network.
Project in the Islands?
Send us your project details. We will map the island rules and approvals.
This page gives general information about environmental law as it stood when it was last reviewed. It is not legal advice on your case and does not promise any result. Environmental rules, EPR targets, GRAP measures and board procedures change often, so check the current position for your unit or project before acting.
Need help with Environmental Lawyer for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Send us the notice, the order or a few photos. We'll tell you where you stand, which authority or NGT bench deals with it and when the next step is due, in plain words.
