Rahul Gandhi slams Great Nicobar project, calls it a scam and flags threat to forests
Rahul Gandhi recently criticized the Great Nicobar Island Development Project as a major scam that threatens rainforests and tribal communities. He made these remarks after visiting the site on April 28, 2026.
Rahul Gandhi’s Criticism
Gandhi labeled the Rs 81,000 crore project “one of the biggest scams and gravest crimes against the country’s natural and tribal heritage,” alleging it involves felling millions of trees across 160 sq km of rainforest. He highlighted risks to fragile ecosystems in the UNESCO-recognized Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve and displacement of indigenous groups like the Shompen and Nicobarese, calling it “destruction dressed in development’s language.”
This map illustrates the project’s footprint within the biosphere reserve, including areas overlapping protected forests and tribal reserves.
Project Overview
The initiative, led by NITI Aayog and ANIIDC, spans 166 sq km and includes a transshipment port at Galathea Bay, an international airport, a township, and a power plant to boost maritime trade, security, and tourism. Proponents view it as vital for India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, reducing reliance on foreign ports like Singapore.
Environmental Concerns
Critics note the plan requires clearing over a million trees, disrupting biodiversity hotspots that support 24% of local species and regulate monsoons. Compensatory afforestation in distant states like Haryana is deemed ineffective for replicating the island’s unique ecology.
Government Stance
The Centre defends the project for its economic and strategic benefits, with National Green Tribunal approval in February 2026 under strict conditions. No direct rebuttal to Gandhi’s April remarks was detailed, though it emphasizes jobs, connectivity, and defense.
