Great Nicobar Project: Ecological Catastrophe, Says Ramesh

Congress leader and former Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has branded the Rs 72,000-crore Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project a “maha ecological disaster,” accusing the Union government of bulldozing it through without addressing tribal rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. In a post on X on August 23, Ramesh cited fresh evidence, reported by The Hindu, that the Andaman and Nicobar administration falsely claimed to have settled the rights of local tribal communities, including the Nicobarese and the Shompen, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) with a population of 200-300.

The ‘Holistic Development of Great Nicobar’ project, initiated in March 2021 at NITI Aayog’s behest, includes a transshipment port, international airport, township, and power plant across 160 sq km, with 130 sq km of pristine rainforest set to be diverted. Ramesh highlighted that the project violates the FRA, which grants the Shompen authority over their tribal reserve, and ignored mandatory consultations with the Tribal Council and the Scheduled Tribes Commission, as required by Article 338(9) of the Constitution. “The consent of affected tribal communities has not been lawfully obtained,” he stated, echoing concerns from 39 global experts who warned of potential “genocide” for the Shompen.

Ramesh, who has repeatedly raised the issue with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, criticized the administration’s rush, noting the project’s location in an earthquake-prone zone that subsided 15 feet during the 2004 tsunami. Compensatory afforestation planned in Haryana, thousands of kilometers away, further undermines ecological balance, he argued. Posts on X, including from @TribalArmy, claim 22% of the tribal reserve is being diverted without consent, violating multiple regulations.

Also Read: Jairam Ramesh Calls Great Nicobar Project a Disaster-Prone Ecological Catastrophe

The Congress demands an immediate suspension of all clearances and a thorough review by parliamentary committees, with Ramesh alleging the Modi government’s persistence despite evidence of ecological and humanitarian risks. The project remains under scrutiny by the National Green Tribunal, with a high-powered committee’s report submitted in a sealed cover, raising transparency concerns.

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