Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday launched a fresh attack on the Centre over the ambitious Great Nicobar Island Project, accusing the Narendra Modi government of ignoring environmental concerns while pushing ahead with the large-scale development initiative.
Stepping up his criticism, Ramesh alleged that the project threatens one of India’s most ecologically sensitive regions and vowed to continue opposing it through public engagement and legal scrutiny.
‘Onward March To Environmental Disaster’
Taking to social media, Ramesh claimed the government was continuing its “onward march to environmental disaster” in Great Nicobar and warned that “the nation’s ecological conscience is on trial.”
The Congress leader said public interest in the issue had steadily grown over the past few years because of concerns surrounding the project’s impact on the island’s biodiversity-rich ecosystem.
To document his campaign against the project, Ramesh shared an anthology containing his social media posts, parliamentary interventions and letters written to various Union ministers along with the responses received.
Legal Challenges Continue In High Court
Ramesh pointed out that multiple petitions filed by citizens and civil society organisations are currently pending before the Calcutta High Court.
According to him, the petitions question various aspects of the project, including alleged violations of the Eco Sensitive Zone notifications relating to Campbell Bay National Park and Galathea National Park, besides concerns linked to the Forest Rights Act, 2006, the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and an order of the National Green Tribunal issued on February 16, 2026.
He maintained that the legal proceedings reflect the seriousness of the environmental issues raised by those opposing the project.
Letters Sent To Several Union Ministers
The Congress leader said he has repeatedly written to senior members of the Union government seeking explanations and urging a review of different aspects of the project.
Last week, he wrote to Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, seeking clarification on the proposed transshipment port planned under the Great Nicobar development project.
He has also addressed letters to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, raising concerns about the project’s environmental impact, implementation of tribal rights and defence-related infrastructure.
In one of his communications to the Environment Ministry, Ramesh argued that the environmental impact assessment for the project was of a demonstrably “dubious nature.”
He has also urged Rajnath Singh to reconsider the decision relating to the expansion of the INS Baaz runway and appealed to Jual Oram to ensure that the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, are implemented “both in appearance and in letter and spirit.”
Congress Continues Opposition
The Congress has consistently opposed the Great Nicobar project, alleging that the proposed transshipment port at Galathea Bay could cause irreversible ecological damage, including large-scale destruction of coral reefs and other sensitive marine habitats.
The party has maintained that environmental safeguards should take precedence over large infrastructure projects in ecologically fragile regions.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also criticised the government’s justification for the project. He said the claim that the project is primarily intended for defence and port infrastructure is “a lie”, alleging instead that “it is actually about benefiting one businessman so that he can build hotels and casinos on India’s most irreplaceable ecological land.”
With legal challenges still pending and political criticism continuing to intensify, the Great Nicobar project remains one of the country’s most closely watched environmental and infrastructure debates.
