Congress Raises Alarm Over Great Nicobar Project’s Environmental Risks

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has expressed serious concerns regarding the Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project, describing it as an “ecological disaster” that is being rapidly advanced by the Indian government. He argues that this project continues to proceed despite ongoing legal challenges related to environmental clearances. Ramesh, who previously served as the Minister for the Environment, stated that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation is actively seeking expressions of interest for tree enumeration, felling, logging, and marking specific areas for the project, which raises significant environmental concerns.

Ramesh highlighted that on August 18, 2022, the administration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, under the control of the Union Home Ministry, certified that all individual and community rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, had been identified and settled. He claimed that consent for the diversion of land for the project was obtained inappropriately. This certification was subsequently challenged in the Calcutta High Court on December 18, 2024, by Meena Gupta, a retired IAS officer who previously served in senior positions within the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

The former minister noted that Gupta’s petition argues that the certification process did not adhere to the legal requirements set forth by the Forest Rights Act, constituting a serious violation of the law. Ramesh pointed out that on February 19, 2025, the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs filed an affidavit seeking to be removed from the list of respondents in the case. This action sparked further questions about the government’s commitment to following legal procedures.

Compounding the situation, Ramesh revealed that just days ago, on September 8, 2025, the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs requested a factual report from the Chief Secretary of the Union Territory regarding complaints from the Tribal Council of Little and Great Nicobar Islands. These complaints pertain to alleged non-compliance by local authorities with the Forest Rights Act. Ramesh remarked on the Ministry’s ambiguous stance as the legal challenge in the Calcutta High Court awaits a comprehensive hearing.

In addition to the legal challenges, Ramesh noted that the environmental clearance for the Great Nicobar project is also under scrutiny in the National Green Tribunal. Despite these challenges, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation has continued to invite expressions of interest for various activities related to the project, including logging and tree transportation.

The project has already seen significant developments, with Galathea Bay designated as a major port. Ramesh criticized the government’s approach, suggesting that it blatantly disregards the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, while asserting that the administration is rushing to push through this controversial project.

Ramesh has previously communicated his concerns to the current Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav, who has defended the project as critical for national development. In response to the ongoing discourse, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has also condemned the project, characterizing it as a “planned misadventure” that jeopardizes the existence of indigenous tribal communities on the islands.

The situation surrounding the Great Nicobar project continues to evolve, with significant implications for environmental policy and indigenous rights in India. As legal proceedings unfold, the future of this ambitious infrastructure initiative remains uncertain.