Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi wrote to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, raising serious concerns over alleged violations of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, in the clearances granted for the ₹72,000-crore Great Nicobar Project. In his letter, Gandhi highlighted claims by the Tribal Council of Little and Great Nicobar that the Nicobarese and Shompen communities, the latter a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), were not adequately consulted as mandated by the FRA. He urged the minister to investigate these grievances and ensure compliance with legal and constitutional processes.

Gandhi noted that the Tribal Council alleges the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the project was obtained under duress with insufficient information provided to the tribal communities. The council later withdrew its consent upon learning the project’s full scope, which involves diverting approximately 13,075 hectares of forest land, including 130 square kilometers of pristine forest inhabited by the Nicobarese and Shompens. Gandhi emphasized that these communities, displaced by the 2004 tsunami, fear further marginalization and loss of their ancestral lands, threatening their cultural and economic survival.

The Great Nicobar Project, titled “Holistic Development of Great Nicobar,” includes a transshipment port, an international airport, a township, and a power plant spanning over 160 square kilometers. Gandhi stressed that any development must uphold constitutional values of justice, equality, and human dignity, urging the government to adhere to the FRA’s requirement for free, prior, and informed consent from affected Gram Sabhas.

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Congress leaders have consistently criticized the project’s ecological and humanitarian implications. Former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has labeled it a “maha ecological disaster,” alleging it is being rushed without proper scrutiny. On August 23, 2025, Ramesh cited fresh evidence of the Andaman and Nicobar administration’s false claims regarding the settlement of tribal forest rights, reinforcing calls for a review. Similarly, Congress whip Manickam Tagore, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 31, 2025, demanded an independent review of the forest clearance process, full recognition of FRA rights, suspension of the project until legal compliance, and accountability for officials’ alleged misrepresentations.

The Tribal Council has repeatedly contested the administration’s claim that FRA rights were “settled,” asserting that the process of recognizing these rights was never initiated. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) have also flagged procedural lapses, including the lack of consultation with the NCST, as mandated by the Constitution. The project’s environmental impact, including the planned felling of over 8.5 lakh trees, has further fueled opposition from environmentalists and tribal rights advocates.

Gandhi’s letter underscores the need to protect the Nicobarese and Shompen communities, emphasizing that India’s democratic strength lies in safeguarding its most vulnerable populations. The controversy surrounding the Great Nicobar Project highlights ongoing tensions between development goals and the preservation of tribal rights and ecological integrity.

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