New Delhi, May 17: The Congress party continues to raise concerns regarding the Central Government’s Great Nicobar Island project. On Sunday, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote a letter to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, questioning the environmental clearances, tribal rights, and the strategic justification of the project.
In a post on the social media platform X, Ramesh stated, “After writing to the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, I have now also addressed a letter to the Defense Minister regarding the Great Nicobar Island project.”
In his letter, Ramesh raised issues with a press note released by the government on May 1 titled “The Great Nicobar Island Project: Frequently Asked Questions.” He referenced letters sent to the Union Minister of Environment on May 10 and the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs on May 13.
Ramesh argued that these “Frequently Asked Questions” present a misleading picture of the environmental approvals granted to the project, which he claims are based on dubious grounds. He also criticized the misrepresentation of compliance with the Forest Rights Act of 2006 during the approval process. Ramesh emphasized that this process openly violates the individual and collective rights granted to tribal communities by Parliament.
In his letter to Singh, Ramesh stated, “This project is fundamentally a commercial venture and faces increasing public criticism for its ecological damage. The government is attempting to justify it on the grounds of so-called paramount security concerns. I want to be clear that there can be no disagreement on the need to strengthen our country’s defense capabilities.”
He added that there is also no disagreement on the need to reliably demonstrate India’s strategic capabilities. Ramesh noted that “INS Baaz,” located in Campbell Bay of Great Nicobar Island, was commissioned in July 2012. However, plans to triple the current runway length and construct a naval jetty have been awaiting approval for nearly five years, with minimal adverse environmental impact.
Ramesh further mentioned that there are assets of the Andaman and Nicobar Command that were established many years ago (even before 2014) and could be expanded with significantly less environmental devastation. These include INS Kardip, INS Kohasa, INS Utkrisht, INS Jarawa, and Car Nicobar Air Force Station. He pointed out that a significant part of the Great Nicobar Island project involves a transshipment port and township, which do not enhance the military capacity of our country. Yet, these are now being presented as the primary justification for the project.
Reiterating his stance, Ramesh stated, “The Great Nicobar Island project, in its current form, is a recipe for ecological disaster. I urge you to seriously consider the alternatives suggested by esteemed naval officials in their writings.”
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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