Congress slams Great Nicobar Project: Demands secret report, calls afforestation claims 'bogus'

New Delhi: The Congress party on Sunday intensified its opposition to the development initiative on Great Nicobar Island, dismissing the government’s compensatory afforestation claims as "bogus" and demanding the release of a restricted environmental report.

In a formal appeal to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, former Union Minister and Congress MP Jairam Ramesh called for the government to "pause, reflect, and revisit the project in its present design and detail." Ramesh specifically requested the publication of a report generated by a High-Powered Committee (HPC), which was established by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to evaluate the environmental clearance of a project that requires clearing more than 700,000 trees.

The Congress leader disputed the Union government’s recent "Frequently Asked Questions" publication, which suggested that an Environmental Management Plan would sufficiently mitigate ecological damage. Ramesh noted that the NGT formed the HPC in 2023 after identifying "unanswered deficiencies" in the project’s initial approval.

Transparency Concerns

Ramesh challenged the Environment Ministry's assertion that the HPC’s findings are classified, arguing that such a stance undermines the principles of accountability.

"I am at a complete loss to understand the logic and legality behind the claim of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change that the HPC's report is confidential," Ramesh wrote. "This goes against all basic principles of transparency and accountability to which you claim commitment."

He further questioned why a court-ordered review would be kept secret when the original environmental appraisals, township master plans, and airport project reports are already accessible to the public.

"In the interests of good governance and informed public debate, please make the HPC report public," he added.

Ecological and Security Arguments

The Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications emphasised that the island’s biodiversity is of global significance and warned that the proposed development would cause irreparable harm to a unique ecosystem. He also addressed the government's justification for the project regarding national interests.

"The compensatory afforestation argument is completely bogus, and you know it. Security experts have themselves written that the country's essential security needs can be met without inflicting such ecological devastation," Ramesh stated in his letter.

The Government’s Position

The Union Environment Ministry has defended the project, asserting that it successfully integrates port-driven economic expansion with regulated environmental protections and the safeguarding of local indigenous groups.

Officials describe the initiative as a strategic necessity, aimed at transforming Great Nicobar into a maritime hub due to its location near the East-West shipping lane. The ministry argues the project will reduce India’s reliance on international transhipment ports while bolstering national defence.

According to the Ministry, the project’s primary features include:

• International Container Transhipment Terminal: A facility with a projected 14.2 million TEU capacity.
• Greenfield International Airport: Designed to accommodate 4,000 peak-hour passengers.
• Power Infrastructure: A 450 MVA plant utilising gas and solar energy.
• Urban Development: A new township encompassing 16,610 hectares.

With inputs from IANS