Jairam Ramesh, a senior Congress leader, has raised alarm over the Great Nicobar Island Project in a letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, calling it a 'recipe for ecological disaster.' Ramesh outlines his concerns regarding the project's potential negative impact on local ecology and tribal rights, asserting that it is being justified under the guise of national security. He notes that while strengthening India's defenses is crucial, the current project compromises environmental integrity and violates the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Ramesh has previously addressed his concerns to the Union Ministers of Environment and Tribal Affairs, highlighting misleading information regarding environmental clearances. He suggests that enhancing existing naval facilities, such as INS Baaz, would be more beneficial and less harmful to the environment. Ramesh emphasizes that the transshipment port and township proposed in the project do not significantly contribute to military capabilities, urging a reconsideration of the project's approach in favor of alternatives that respect ecological and tribal rights.