Jairam Ramesh Urges Pause on Great Nicobar Development Over Ecological Concerns

Congress leader and former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has urged Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to pause and reconsider the Great Nicobar Island development project, warning it will cause irreversible damage to the island's globally unique ecosystem. In a letter dated May 10, 2026, Ramesh said the environmental clearance was based on studies that are 'grossly inadequate' and fail to meet statutory requirements for port projects in ecologically sensitive areas.

Ramesh challenged the government's assertion of a robust Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), stating that baseline data was collected over just days or weeks, falling short of the mandated multi-season studies. He cited the sector-specific EIA Manual for ports and the ICRZ Notification, 2019, which require comprehensive assessments, particularly in erosion-prone coastal zones like Great Nicobar.

He also referenced a February 16, 2026, National Green Tribunal (NGT) judgment that upheld the need for re-evaluation, noting that a High-Powered Committee (HPC) report, ordered by an earlier NGT ruling, remains confidential despite being court-mandated. Ramesh criticized the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for claiming confidentiality, calling it a violation of transparency and accountability principles.

Ramesh dismissed compensatory afforestation as unviable in this context and cited security experts who argue that India's strategic needs in the region can be met without large-scale ecological disruption. He urged the Ministry to revisit the project’s current design, asserting that existing studies 'make a mockery of the EIA process.'

The MoEFCC has not publicly responded to the letter. The NGT is expected to resume hearing on the matter on May 25, 2026, with pending submissions on the HPC report's disclosure and the validity of the environmental clearance.