Jairam Ramesh Criticizes Great Nicobar Project

Jairam Ramesh, a leader of the India — Indian National Congress, has written to Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister of India, to express strong concerns about the Great Nicobar Island Project. Ramesh argues that the project, despite being justified on national security grounds by the Government of India, is primarily a 'commercial venture' that poses a 'recipe for ecological disaster'. He has previously raised similar concerns with the India — Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the India — Ministry of External Affairs, alleging that environmental clearances were granted on 'dubious grounds' and that tribal rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, have been violated. Ramesh proposes alternative defence infrastructure upgrades, such as expanding existing naval assets like India — INS Baaz and other facilities under the India — Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which he believes would achieve strategic objectives with less environmental impact. The Great Nicobar Island Project includes plans for an International Container Transshipment Terminal, a Greenfield International Airport, a gas-solar power plant, and a township.