'Beauty Is Going To Be Destroyed': Rahul Gandhi Flags Environmental Concerns Over Great Nicobar Project
'Beauty Is Going To Be Destroyed': Rahul Gandhi Flags Environmental Concerns Over Great Nicobar Project Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 14:23 IST While
'Beauty Is Going To Be Destroyed': Rahul Gandhi Flags Environmental Concerns Over Great Nicobar Project Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 14:23 IST While backing environmentally sustainable tourism in the islands, he said development should not come at the cost of ecological destruction. Rapid Read File photo of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing an election rally in Kerala. (Image: Congress/X) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday voiced strong opposition to the proposed Great Nicobar Project, arguing that the development could cause irreversible ecological damage to one of India’s most pristine natural regions. In a video shared on YouTube, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha reflected on his recent visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he toured parts of the archipelago, interacted with residents and tribal communities, and observed the area’s forests and marine ecosystems. Describing his reaction to the region’s natural beauty, Rahul said, “I was a bit disturbed that such beauty is going to be destroyed. I was like, more and more people should experience this. I don’t think people understand, certainly the government doesn’t understand." While backing environmentally sustainable tourism in the islands, he said development should not come at the cost of ecological destruction. “We went to the Andamans and the Nicobar. We spent a day in the Andamans. And in the Andaman Islands, we went for a scooter ride. We met locals there. We spoke to them. We met the tourists there. We had a chat with them as well. We are 100% on board with pushing and developing facilities for ecologically balanced tourism in the Andaman Islands," he said.
Rahul claimed that the scale of the proposed project posed a serious threat to the region’s environment and local communities. “61 square kilometres! Please understand this, this is four times New Delhi, okay. And they are building this project in the most pristine ecological environment this country has. And they are snatching away the land from people who were made to settle there, and they’re snatching away the land from tribals." He also raised concerns over the impact on coral reef ecosystems, comparing their destruction to the loss of a major wildlife conservation asset. “Destroying Nicobar corals is as if you’re killing hundreds and hundreds of tigers in India. That’s the same, right? They are wiping out a huge chunk of valuable resources for India, a biological resource for India. And it’s similar to essentially destroying Project Tiger. Coral reefs, of course, they provide a home to a variety of associated organisms," he said. The Congress leader further alleged that provisions of the Forest Rights Act had not been properly implemented and that affected tribal communities were not adequately consulted. “Without going into the procedures of the Forest Rights Act (FRA). We were told that the FRA was not used; it was misused. People were not asked questions. Can you give us, like, you know, how you feel the FRA was not used? The FRA is very clearly modelled and is given a format as to how an FRA, the process of a meeting and for a Gram Sabhas could take place," Rahul stated. Later, in a post on X, Gandhi expanded on his observations from the visit, saying he had witnessed both the ecological richness of the islands and the concerns of local residents.
“I visited the southernmost tip of India. I stood at Indira Point. I walked under trees that have stood for centuries. I dove into coral reefs among the most vibrant on earth. And I sat with the people who live there. Tribal communities, whose land is being taken away by violating the Forest Rights Act. Settlers, many of them former soldiers, placed on these islands by the Indian government, who aren’t getting fair compensation." Rahul also challenged the government’s rationale for the project, rejecting claims that it was primarily intended to serve defence and transhipment objectives. “The Modi government and BJP tells you Great Nicobar Project is about defence. It is not. Expand INS Baaz – we will back the government fully. The Navy has been asking for expansion for five years – it has been ignored. They tell you it is about a transhipment port. It is not. India is already building one in Kerala, which is on the mainland. What it actually is: 1.5 crore trees felled. Coral reefs erased from official maps. Soldiers and tribals displaced – so one businessman can build hotels and casinos on India’s most irreplaceable ecological land," Rahul said. Concluding his remarks, Gandhi argued in favour of sustainable development and said economic gains should not come at the expense of irreplaceable natural resources. “Every young Indian I have spoken to understands this. You know that no amount of profit is worth destroying what can never be recovered. I stand for ecologically balanced development. These islands can be the most extraordinary sustainable destination the world has ever seen.
That is the India worth fighting for." According to the government, the Great Nicobar Island mega infrastructure project is aimed at leveraging the island’s location near the East-West shipping route, reducing India’s dependence on foreign transhipment hubs and strengthening defence and national security capabilities. The project includes a 14.2 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (MTEU) International Container Transhipment Terminal, a Greenfield International Airport with a capacity of 4,000 peak-hour passengers, a 450 MVA gas-solar power plant and a planned township. (With inputs from ANI) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers,... Read More First Published: June 05, 2026, 14:23 IST News india 'Beauty Is Going To Be Destroyed': Rahul Gandhi Flags Environmental Concerns Over Great Nicobar Project Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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