Congress Seeks Disclosure of Environmental Studies on Great Nicobar Project Amid Concerns

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has raised fresh concerns over the Great Nicobar Island development project, writing to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and alleging a lack of transparency in the publication and accessibility of key environmental studies related to the initiative. In his letter, the former environment minister reiterated that the environmental impact assessments (EIAs) associated with various components of the project are “demonstrably inadequate” and do not meet the standards and guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). He argued that the assessments fall short of what is required for a project of such ecological sensitivity.

Ramesh pointed out that he has previously written multiple letters on the same issue, but said he has not received what he described as a substantive response. He maintained that several concerns raised earlier regarding ecological safeguards, compliance mechanisms, and disclosure norms remain unresolved. A key issue highlighted in his latest communication relates to post-clearance compliance and monitoring. Ramesh noted that while the government has stated that environmental clearance conditions require continuous oversight, mandatory six-monthly compliance reports have not been made publicly available since March 2024.

He also flagged delays in publishing minutes of project monitoring committee meetings, stating that they are often uploaded months after they take place. The Congress leader further argued that the environmental clearance granted to the project on November 11, 2022, required multiple conservation and mitigation plans to be prepared and submitted within 15 days. According to him, these documents have not been placed in the public domain despite their importance for assessing the ecological impact of the project.

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Ramesh specifically referred to plans that were to be developed by several premier scientific and research institutions, including the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), and the Andaman and Nicobar Forest Department (ANFD). He said the absence of publicly accessible reports from these bodies raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability.

The Great Nicobar Island project, which has been positioned as a major infrastructure and strategic development initiative, has faced scrutiny from environmental groups and opposition leaders due to its potential ecological impact on the fragile island ecosystem. Critics have repeatedly called for greater disclosure of environmental studies, particularly given the region’s biodiversity and seismic sensitivity. Ramesh’s latest intervention adds to an ongoing debate between the government and opposition over environmental governance, project clearances, and public access to ecological assessments. He has urged the Environment Ministry to ensure that all studies, reports, and compliance documents related to the project are made publicly available to enable independent scrutiny.

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