Concerns Raised Over Great Nicobar Island Development Project by Jairam Ramesh
Ecological disaster: Jairam Ramesh writes to Rajnath on Great Nicobar project
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary, has expressed strong opposition to the ₹81,000 crore Great Nicobar Island Development Project, labeling it an ecological disaster. He urges Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to enhance existing naval infrastructure instead, citing potential harm to indigenous communities and environmental degradation.
- 01The Great Nicobar Island Development Project includes a deep-sea port, airport, township, and power plant across 16,610 hectares.
- 02Ramesh claims the project lacks military enhancement and is primarily a commercial venture, despite being justified on security grounds.
- 03Indigenous communities, including the Nicobarese and Shompen, are at risk from the project's ecological impact.
- 04Ramesh's letters highlight procedural flaws in obtaining tribal consent under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
- 05Three public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the project's legality are pending in the Calcutta High Court, with the next hearing scheduled for June 23.
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Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP, has voiced significant concerns regarding the ₹81,000 crore Great Nicobar Island Development Project, which he describes as a 'recipe for ecological disaster.' In a letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, dated May 16, Ramesh argues that the project, which encompasses a deep-sea transshipment port, an international airport, a township, and a power plant over 16,610 hectares, poses severe risks to the island's environment and its indigenous communities, the Nicobarese and Shompen. Ramesh criticizes the government's justification of the project on security grounds, asserting that it primarily serves commercial interests and does not enhance military capabilities. He also highlights procedural irregularities in obtaining tribal consent under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), claiming that the government failed to follow due process. Ramesh's previous letters to other ministers have similarly challenged the project's legitimacy. Additionally, three public interest litigations have been filed in the Calcutta High Court against the project, with a hearing set for June 23. Ramesh suggests expanding existing naval facilities as a more environmentally responsible alternative.
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The project poses significant threats to the ecological balance of Great Nicobar Island, affecting indigenous communities and local biodiversity.
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