Congress ने Great Nicobar परियोजना पर पारिस्थितिकी, जनजातीय अधिकार और सुरक्षा चिंताओं को लेकर संसद में बहस की मांग की

<h2>Congress Demands Parliamentary Scrutiny of Great Nicobar Project</h2> <p>The <strong>Congress</strong> on <strong>Sunday, 3 May 2026</strong> raised detailed objections to the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Great Nicobar project – a strategic infrastructure and development initiative on Great Nicobar Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, aimed at enhancing connectivity, tourism and defence facilities (GS2: Polity, GS3: Environment)">Great Nicobar project</span>. The party said the scheme must be examined in a <span class="key-term" data-definition="Parliamentary forum – the legislative platform comprising the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha where policies are debated, amended and approved (GS2: Polity)">parliamentary forum</span> to ensure that ecological balance, tribal welfare, transparency and security are not compromised.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>Congress highlighted potential threats to <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ecology – the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment; in policy terms, it refers to the health of ecosystems and biodiversity (GS3: Environment)">ecology</span> of the island, including fragile coral reefs and forest cover.</li> <li>The party warned that the project could infringe on <span class="key-term" data-definition="Tribal rights – constitutional and statutory protections for indigenous communities, including land rights under the Forest Rights Act and provisions of Article 46 (GS1: History, GS2: Polity)">tribal rights</span> of the Nicobarese and other indigenous groups.</li> <li>Concerns were raised about the lack of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Transparency – openness in decision‑making, allowing public scrutiny and accountability, a key principle of good governance (GS2: Polity)">transparency</span> in project approvals and the adequacy of security arrangements.</li> <li>The Opposition accused the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Modi government – the executive administration led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (GS2: Polity)">Modi government</span> of being "rattled" and in damage‑control mode after a high‑profile visit by <span class="key-term" data-definition="Rahul Gandhi – Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader, known for challenging government policies (GS2: Polity)">Rahul Gandhi</span> to Great Nicobar last week.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>The visit by <span class="key-term" data-definition="Rahul Gandhi – Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader, known for challenging government policies (GS2: Polity)">Rahul Gandhi</span> was the first by a senior opposition figure to the island in recent years, underscoring the political sensitivity of the project. The Congress party has demanded that the matter be taken up in the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Parliamentary forum – the legislative platform comprising