In a fervent rebuttal to Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments regarding the Great Nicobar Mega Infra Project, Congress leaders on Wednesday criticized the government for overlooking vital environmental and anthropological factors. The remarks surfaced during a parliamentary session discussing the ongoing developments in the strategically significant project, which aims to enhance infrastructure in the Nicobar Islands.
The Congress party accused the ruling government of rushing to grant approvals, allegedly disregarding historical regulations such as the ANPAT Regulation (1956) and Shompen Policy (2015). The signatories of a recent letter highlighted that their objections related to ecological and anthropological impacts have largely fallen on deaf ears.
The letter, co-signed by notable figures including Padma Bhushan Ramachandra Guha and Padma Shri Romulus Whitaker, stated, “The Environmental Appraisal Committee ignored anthropological and ecological objections which are critical to the preservation of local communities and wildlife.” They pointed out that the denotification of Galathea wildlife sanctuary and the establishment of three new sanctuaries took place without any consultation with the indigenous Great and Little Nicobar islanders.
The signatories characterized the government’s actions as a “hollow exercise,” suggesting that the process primarily aimed to secure environmental clearance rather than genuinely address responsibly raised concerns. Additionally, they pointed out a “glaring conflict of interest” arising from government institutions involved in developing and monitoring environmental management plans.
The influential group has urged Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to prioritize the environments of the Nicobar Islands over political considerations. They called for a thorough reassessment of the project’s potential catastrophic effects on local ecosystems and indigenous communities, which rely on the land for their survival.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in a critical piece published in “The Hindu,” dubbed the project a “planned misadventure.” Gandhi stated that the scheme threatens the very existence of the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes and jeopardizes one of the planet’s most distinctive ecosystems. She accused the government of manipulating legal frameworks and bypassing necessary deliberative processes in pushing the agenda forward.
In a direct response to the criticisms, Environment Minister Yadav defended the Great Nicobar Mega Infra Project in his own column in the same publication. He argued that the project holds significant strategic, defense, and national importance, asserting that it could synergize with broader development goals in the region.
The ongoing debate surrounding the Great Nicobar project mirrors wider tensions in India over development versus conservation, especially concerning vulnerable indigenous populations and unique environmental landscapes. The outcome of this project can set a precedent for future developments affecting both ecological and human systems across India.
The signing of the letter and the subsequent public discourse brings to light the urgent need for a balanced approach to infrastructure development in sensitive ecological zones. Stakeholders are emphasizing that any progression must respect the rights of local communities and heed scientific evaluations regarding environmental preservation.
