New Delhi

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday renewed his criticism of the proposed Great Nicobar Island Project, arguing that the development, in its current form, is largely driven by commercial interests and poses serious risks to the region’s fragile ecosystem and biodiversity.

In a detailed letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ramesh responded to the minister’s recent communication defending the project and its environmental clearance process. While welcoming the opportunity for public engagement, he maintained that the concerns surrounding the project’s environmental assessment remain unresolved.

Ramesh said his earlier appeal had simply sought strict adherence to environmental laws and a comprehensive evaluation of the project’s ecological impact. He pointed out that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted in March 2022 had itself described the study as a rapid reconnaissance exercise rather than a full-fledged assessment.

According to the Congress leader, the environmental clearance was granted without the benefit of comprehensive studies based on data collected across multiple seasons. He argued that several supporting reports relied on limited field surveys conducted over a short period rather than extensive primary data collection.

Ramesh also questioned the ministry’s reliance on historical datasets and secondary information gathered by institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. While such information may be useful, he said, it cannot replace project-specific field studies conducted at the site and surrounding impact zones.

Referring to rulings by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Ramesh contended that the government’s interpretation of those judgments was incomplete. He noted that the tribunal’s April 2023 order had highlighted unresolved deficiencies in the project’s environmental clearance and called for a fresh examination, including the need for a comprehensive EIA.

He further cited findings related to Galathea Bay, where satellite-based assessments reportedly identified stretches of shoreline experiencing erosion. Since coastal regulations restrict port development in highly eroding areas and require detailed assessments even in moderately affected zones, Ramesh questioned whether adequate studies had been conducted to evaluate seasonal changes along the coastline.

The Congress leader also criticised what he described as a lack of independent scrutiny in the review process. He alleged that the same agencies involved in preparing the environmental studies were effectively evaluating their own work, undermining the credibility of the exercise.

Additionally, he referred to a 2009 ministry memorandum that mandates comprehensive environmental assessments, including modelling and ground verification, for port projects in island territories such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. He also cited ministry guidelines requiring environmental data to be collected over multiple seasons to properly assess ecological impacts.

Ramesh argued that conditions attached to the project’s environmental clearance cannot compensate for what he described as shortcomings in the assessment process itself. In his view, adequate scientific studies should have been completed before approvals were granted.

The Congress leader also demanded that the report of a High-Powered Committee, submitted to the NGT in a sealed cover in 2025, be made public. He questioned why a review process concerning a major public project should remain confidential when other project-related documents, including the township master plan and airport development proposals, are already available in the public domain.

Ramesh further claimed that the government’s justification for the project has increasingly shifted from development objectives to strategic considerations. He said that while national security concerns are important, several defence experts have suggested that India’s strategic interests could be better served by strengthening existing military infrastructure, including INS Baaz at Campbell Bay and other facilities under the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

According to him, the proposed project remains predominantly commercial in nature despite the strategic arguments now being advanced.

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The exchange marks the latest chapter in an ongoing debate between Ramesh and the government over the future of the Great Nicobar Island Project, with environmentalists and policymakers continuing to differ sharply over its potential ecological, developmental and strategic implications.