Overview
- Ramesh posted his letter Sunday, calling the Great Nicobar project a “recipe for ecological disaster” and asking the defence minister to rethink it.
- He proposed lower‑impact defence steps such as extending the INS Baaz runway, adding a naval jetty, and expanding existing Andaman and Nicobar Command bases.
- He said the May 1 government FAQ misstates environmental clearances and that Forest Rights Act procedures and tribal consent were violated.
- The project retains a 2022 environmental clearance after an NGT bench declined to intervene in February 2026, while three Calcutta High Court PILs are listed for June 23.
- Backers cite the island’s location near the Strait of Malacca and the NGT’s order, while critics say the planned port, airport, township and power plant would damage forests, reefs, leatherback turtle nesting sites and the Shompen and Southern Nicobarese.