Synopsis

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has criticized Prime Minister Modi's Great Nicobar Island Project, labeling it an "environmental disaster." He highlighted extensive public engagement and legal challenges against the project, citing violations of environmental laws and the Forest Rights Act. Ramesh asserted that the nation's "ecological conscience is on trial" as the project proceeds, with multiple petitions pending in the Calcutta High Court.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh (In pic) accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pushing the Great Nicobar project towards "environmental disaster", saying India's "ecological conscience is on trial."

New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of continuing with his onward march to "environmental disaster" in Great Nicobar, and said the nation's "ecological conscience is on trial".

Upping the ante against the Great Nicobar Island Project, the former environment minister shared on X his extensive public engagement over the past few years on the venture and its devastating impacts on the unique biodiversity-rich ecosystem.

"There has been interest in accessing my extensive public engagement over the past few years on the Great Nicobar Island Project and its devastating impacts on that unique biodiversity-rich ecosystem. Here is an anthology of (i) most of the social media posts; (ii) a couple of brief interventions in Parliament; and most importantly (iii) letters to various Union Ministers and their replies as well," Ramesh said, sharing the public engagements.

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There will undoubtedly be more such public engagements as the prime minister "continues the onward march to environmental disaster" in Great Nicobar, even as five different petitions filed by public-spirited and concerned citizens and civil society groups are in the Calcutta High Court, Ramesh said.

He then went on to list the petitions, including the challenge premised on violations of the Eco Sensitive Zone Notification regarding Campbell Bay National Park, the challenge premised on violations of the Eco Sensitive Zone Notification regarding Galathea National Park and the challenge premised on violations of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and its Rules, 2008.

Ramesh also listed the challenge in the high court premised on violations of the Coastal Zone Regulation Notification, 2019 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the challenge on various grounds of the oder of the National Green Tribunal dated February 16, 2026.

"The nation's ecological conscience is on trial," Ramesh said.

Last week, Ramesh, who has been raising concerns over the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) project, wrote a letter to Union minister Sarbanand Sonowal, seeking clarifications on the development of a transhipment port under the project.

Ramesh has written multiple letters to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, raising questions over the project and highlighting the "ecological havoc" it would result in.

The Congress leader, in his letters to Yadav, has highlighted the demonstrably "dubious nature" of the environmental impact assessment of the project in its totality.

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The Congress has attacked the government over the project, saying the transhipment port on Galathea Bay is a recipe for ecological havoc and would lead to large-scale destruction of coral colonies.

Ramesh has also written two letters to the Defence Minister over the project and urged him to reconsider the rejection of the full expansion of the INS Baaz runway.

The Congress leader has also written two letters to Tribal Affairs Minister Oram, urging him to ensure that the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, are both seen to be implemented and are actually implemented in letter and spirit.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said the government's argument that the project is about defence and a transhipment port is a "lie", and alleged that it is actually about benefiting one businessman so that he can build hotels and casinos on India's most irreplaceable ecological land.

Gandhi had also released an over 16-minute video last month based on his visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in late April and urged people to sign a petition to tell the government "we choose green over greed".