Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on May 10, 2026 demanding a halt to the Great Nicobar Island development project, alleging that the environmental clearances are based on inadequate studies.
Key Developments
- Ramesh claims the EIA for the port project is a "mockery" and was based on data collected over only a few days.
- He points out that the EMP cited by the government is not backed by comprehensive baseline studies covering at least three seasons.
- The letter cites the ICRZ Notification, 2019 clause 8(i)(c) which mandates a full EIA for projects in low‑ or medium‑eroding coastal stretches.
- Ramesh references two judgments of the NGT (April 3, 2023 and February 16, 2026) that highlight deficiencies in the clearance and the confidentiality claim of the HPC report.
- The opposition alleges that the Modi government is in "damage‑control mode" after Rahul Gandhi's visit to the island on April 28, 2026, where he called the project a "biggest scam".
Important Facts
The government’s FAQ released on May 1, 2026 claims that the project balances strategic, economic and ecological priorities, and that indigenous community protection remains central. However, Ramesh argues that the baseline data required by the MoEF&CC for port‑specific EIA manuals demand at le