The Congress on Monday (February 16, 2026) termed as “deeply disappointing” the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) clearance to the Great Nicobar project and said there is clear evidence that the project will have “disastrous ecological impacts”.
A six-member special bench of the NGT disposed of challenges to the mega infrastructure project and concluded that it found “no good ground to interfere”, as there were “adequate safeguards” in the project’s environmental clearance.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh pointed out that the matter is, however, still under argument in the Calcutta High Court and said that now is the only beacon of hope.
“The decision of the National Green Tribunal giving its approval to the Great Nicobar project is deeply disappointing. There is clear evidence that the project will have disastrous ecological impacts,” he said.
The making of an ecological disaster in the Nicobar
