NEW DELHI - Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has branded the ambitious Great Nicobar project as a colossal "scam" and a "grave crime" against the nation's natural and tribal heritage. During a visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gandhi asserted that the development, involving a Rs 81,000 crore infrastructure plan, disregards local populations and decimates irreplaceable rainforests.
The project, slated for development near Galathea Bay, includes an international container transshipment terminal, an airport, a power plant, and a township, spanning over 166 square kilometers, a significant portion of which is forest and tribal land. Tribal communities have reportedly voiced considerable hardship and alleged displacement, with claims of being ignored and denied proper compensation. Gandhi pointed to the disregard for the 'Forest Rights Act' and stated that "Every single person who lives on this island is against this project."
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The National Green Tribunal (NGT), however, has previously affirmed the project's importance for India's economy and national security. In February, the NGT ruled that adequate safeguards were incorporated into the environmental clearance conditions, finding no valid grounds to intervene. Proponents of the project highlight its potential to generate approximately 1,28,558 jobs and position Great Nicobar as a significant global maritime hub.
Gandhi, who arrived in the islands on April 26, also criticized what he termed as "corporate influence" in the Union Territory, advocating for development to prioritize local needs over corporate interests. He urged young people to pay close attention to the matter, framing the destruction of the island's ancient forests as a betrayal of their future.
"What I have seen is not a project. It is communities that have been ignored while their homes have been snatched away." - Rahul Gandhi
The project's scope involves a substantial land area, with approximately 130.75 sq km designated as forest land and 84.10 sq km as tribal land. Gandhi described the forests as "older than memory," remarking that "160 square kilometers of rainforest [are] condemned to die." He further characterized the initiative as "destruction dressed in development’s language."
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The project, intended to bolster trade, connectivity, and national security, has drawn sharp criticism from Gandhi, who characterized it as a "wholesale theft" and implored residents to raise the issue in Parliament. He also visited Indira Point, paying respects to the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
