Jairam Ramesh Urges Rethink on Great Nicobar Airport, Favors INS Baaz Expansion

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has intensified his opposition to the ambitious Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Development Project, directly appealing to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to reconsider the government's plans. In a letter dated May 16, 2026, and reiterated in subsequent communications, Ramesh urged Singh to abandon the proposed greenfield airport at Great Nicobar and instead focus on expanding the existing INS Baaz naval air station in Campbell Bay, citing significantly lower ecological and social costs. He emphasized that the current project poses a severe threat to the island's 'pristine forests' and unique biodiversity. The Great Nicobar project is a colossal infrastructure initiative, estimated to cost between ₹81,000 crore and $10 billion, and is slated for phased implementation over 30 years (2025-2047). Its key components include an International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Galathea Bay, a dual-use international airport, a gas and thermal power complex, and an urban township designed to accommodate a massive influx of people. The government has consistently championed the project's strategic importance, positioning it as vital for India's economic and geopolitical interests in the Indo-Pacific. Proponents argue it will transform India into a regional shipping hub, reduce dependency on foreign transshipment ports like Singapore and Colombo, and strengthen India's maritime presence near the crucial Malacca Strait and the Six Degree Channel. However, Ramesh and numerous environmental groups, policy experts, and civil society organizations have labeled the project a 'recipe for ecological disaster'. Great Nicobar is a recognized biodiversity hotspot and part of UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme, home to tropical rainforests, coral reefs, and over 1,700 endemic species of flora and fauna. The project requires the diversion of approximately 130 square kilometers of forest land, with estimates suggesting the felling of 8.5 to 10 lakh trees. This poses a direct threat to critical habitats, including the nesting grounds of the endangered Giant Leatherback sea turtle in Galathea Bay (a Ramsar wetland) and the endemic Nicobar Megapode bird. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the island's seismic vulnerability, given its location on an active faultline and its history with the 2004 tsunami. Critics also point to alleged procedural irregularities and insufficient baseline ecological data in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. A major point of contention revolves around the project's impact on indigenous communities, particularly the Shompen, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), and the Nicobarese. The diversion of 84.1 square kilometers of tribal reserve land and the proposed influx of up to 650,000 non-local residents raise serious risks of disease exposure, cultural disruption, and loss of traditional livelihoods for these isolated communities. In February 2024, 39 international genocide experts warned that the project could be a 'death sentence' for the Shompen, tantamount to the international crime of genocide. Ramesh has also challenged government claims of tribal consent, alleging that provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 have been 'flagrantly violated'. He argues that the project, with proposed cruise tourism terminals, casinos, discotheques, and theme parks, appears more like an 'ambitious real estate project' than a purely strategic one. As an alternative, Ramesh has consistently advocated for the full expansion of INS Baaz, located at Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island, which is already the southernmost air station of the Indian Armed Forces. Currently used for maritime surveillance, patrolling, and logistic support, INS Baaz has pending plans to treble its runway length from 4,500 feet to 9,000-10,000 feet and construct a naval jetty. Ramesh contends this expansion would be significantly less ecologically damaging while still fulfilling India's strategic military objectives, enabling the operation of long-range maritime surveillance aircraft like the Boeing P-8I and potentially fighter jets. The government, however, has rejected the full expansion of INS Baaz. Defence Ministry sources, as reported on June 8, 2026, cited studies indicating that extending the runway beyond 4,500 feet is impractical due to topographical constraints, the need for substantial land reclamation, and potential adverse impacts on tribal areas, flora, and fauna. They argue that the new greenfield airport site at Chingen near Galathea Bay offers greater scope for future expansion and is crucial for strengthening India's military reach, surveillance capabilities, and logistics footprint in the strategically vital Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. Lt. Governor D.K. Joshi has consistently defended the Great Nicobar project, dismissing critics as 'ill-informed' and asserting that no tribal communities will be displaced. He maintains that due process for environmental and statutory clearances has been meticulously followed, with only about 1.8% of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' total forest area being diverted, which will be offset by compensatory afforestation. The government also points to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) clearing the project, recognizing its strategic significance. Despite these assurances, the debate continues, highlighting the inherent tension between developmental aspirations, strategic imperatives, and the critical need for environmental conservation and the protection of indigenous rights in one of India's most fragile ecosystems. The ongoing contestation underscores the significant national and international scrutiny surrounding the Great Nicobar Island Development Project.

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