Ecological Havoc Assured In Great Nicobar Project : Jairam Ramesh

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday that the Greater Nicobar Island Project as currently conceived is a “largely commercial venture” and “ecological devastation” is guaranteed, with the region’s unique biodiversity also being compromised. Ramesh, who sent another letter to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav regarding the project, said it was reassuring in a way that windows of democratic participation (no matter how ceremonial) still existed and provided some hope.

In his reply to Yadav’s letter dated May 27, which was a response to his earlier letter, Ramesh said his letter of May 10 was a simple request to comply with the law in both text and spirit in comprehensively assessing the ecological impacts of the Project, given that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report in March 2022 had stated that it was only a quick exploratory study.

“I am very glad that you acknowledged that the environmental clean-up was not based on comprehensive EIA studies based on primary data from three seasons and that primary data was collected only over a ‘single seasonal cycle’,” the former environment minister said.

However, “the studies you mentioned are not even based on primary data collected over a ‘single seasonal cycle’ as claimed. The reports themselves acknowledge that the underlying data/surveys for these reports were collected over just a few weeks. I have omitted some parts of these reports for your convenience,” Ramesh pointed out.

“A significant part of your answer is devoted to the claim that institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change have historical data sets used in the impact assessment reports prepared by them,” said the responsible general secretary of the congress. he said.

Yadav will be aware of the difference between primary data and domains collected at the project site and secondary data collected from pre-existing studies, he said.

Ramesh noted that secondary data cannot replace primary data collection and project-specific studies.

“Your letter repeatedly refers to the decisions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) dated April 3, 2023 and February 16, 2026 on the issues I brought to your attention. I have read these decisions carefully again and would like to point out that in paragraph 33 of the decision dated April 3, 2023, it is clearly noted that there are ‘unanswered deficiencies’ in the environmental clearance granted to the project and goes on to list three, including need. Ramesh requested a comprehensive EIA and granted permission for re-examination.” gave it back.” he said.

The congress leader said that in paragraph 46 of the decision dated February 16, 2026, the presentations of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change on the erosion status of Galathea Bay were recorded.

Ramesh noted that in ISRO’s Space Applications Centre’s report, areas on the eastern flank of Galathea Bay are clearly marked in red, indicating erosion.

“You will recall that under the Island Coastal Zone Regulations, 2019, ports are prohibited in ‘high’ erosion areas and comprehensive EIA study is required in ‘low and medium’ erosion areas. Given that ISRO’s report shows significant erosion of the Galathea Bay coastline, is it not prudent to conduct comprehensive EIA studies over three seasons to account for seasonal changes?” Ramesh said.

The Congress leader said that the decision dated February 16, 2026, did not contain any findings regarding the adequacy of data collection and EIA studies as claimed in Yadav’s reply.

Ramesh said, “It is truly extraordinary and even unprecedented that those who prepared the EIA report and other studies and those who commissioned them to finally review their own work and find it good. This is a perversion of the legal process.” he said.

“The NGT order dated February 16, 2026 and your reply have completely disregarded paragraph 5 (D) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ Office Memorandum dated November 3, 2009, which mandates ‘comprehensive environmental impact assessment, including physical and mathematical modeling and ground verification, for all port projects in Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands’,” Ramesh said. he said.

Ramesh said that the February 16 decision, like your answer, also ignored annex 6 of the EIA guideline for ports and harbours, issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, which states that “physical, chemical and biological data should be collected over two to three seasons to understand the effects in different seasons such as pre-monsoon and post-monsoon.”

Yadav stated that he wrote that conditions were imposed to protect biodiversity, and said that these conditions were actually irrelevant in determining whether sufficient studies and evaluations were carried out before the cleaning.

Clearly, he added, this had not been done.

“I have requested you to make public the High Powered Committee report, which was inexplicably handed over to the NGT in a ‘sealed cover’ in October 2025,” Ramesh said. he said.

He said that both the district’s master plan and the airport’s detailed project report are also in the public domain.

Ramesh said he could not understand why and how the review of the permit process became secret.

“I see the narrative on the Greater Nicobar Island Project changing suddenly. Faced with indisputable evidence of its massively negative ecological impacts, the Union Government is now emphasizing its so-called strategic rationale. I have written separately to Raksha Mantri and in fact suggested, as some eminent defense experts have pointed out, that India’s strategic objectives would be better met by expanding INS Baaz at Campbell Bell in the Greater Nicobar archipelago, as well as other assets of the Andaman and Nicobar Command,” Ramesh said.

He argued that the project as currently conceived is largely a commercial venture.

They exchanged several letters on the issue, with Ramesh and Yadav criticizing the government over the project and claiming that it would cause major ecological damage.