Controversial Great Nicobar Project: India NGT Approves

Great Nicobar Project: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has approved the Great Nicobar Holistic Development project, affirming that adequate environmental safeguards are in place. The decision, issued on February 17, 2026, supports the ₹81,834.22 crore initiative, which includes an international container transshipment terminal, airport, power plant, and township. Despite the clearance, petitioners may appeal to the Supreme Court.

The project requires 166.10 sq km of land, including 130.75 sq km of forest and 84.10 sq km of tribal land. The NGT’s 26-page order emphasized compliance with environmental conditions, referencing a previous 2022 challenge by Debi Goenka of the Conservation Action Trust. Ashish Kothari also contested the project, citing violations of Island Coastal Regulation Zone norms.

The NGT accepted the Zoological Survey of India’s controversial claim that Galathea Bay lacks significant coral reefs, suggesting translocation for existing corals. Despite concerns about turtle nesting grounds and the endangered Megapode, the NGT sided with the government’s stance that the area is not within a CRZ-I zone.

Environmentalists and politicians, including Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, have criticized the decision, citing potential ecological damage. With the case still pending in the Calcutta High Court, the project’s future remains uncertain, highlighting ongoing tensions between development and environmental conservation.

Published in SouthAsianDesk, February 17th, 2026

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