NEW DELHI: In response to a recent detailed note released by the government regarding the Great Nicobar Project, Congress party officials criticized the Centre on Sunday for neglecting serious concerns raised by local communities, environmentalists, anthropologists, academics, and civil society regarding the initiative. The opposition party called for a parliamentary debate to address transparency and security issues related to the project.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh dismissed the government’s assertion that the project serves as a strategic initiative to bolster India’s presence in the Andaman Sea. He referenced former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash (retired), who argued that “the security capabilities of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC) need to be addressed separately and must have no linkage with the developments contemplated for Great Nicobar Island (GNI).”
In a comprehensive four-page statement, Ramesh stated, “There is thus no need to link India’s legitimate security imperatives with the so-called ‘development project’ — complete with a township, high-end tourist infrastructure, and large transshipment terminal — that the Modi government is intent on bulldozing through.”
The Congress party further alleged that the government is in “damage control mode” following an encouraging visit to the island by Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi. Ramesh emphasized that the Great Nicobar ecosystem is unique and should not be compared to other islands in the region. He highlighted the significant concerns posed to the Nicobarese and Shompen communities, noting that the Nicobarese community had retracted its No Objection Certificate (NoC) for forest diversion in November 2022.
