Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday endorsed the Great Nicobar Island Project, calling it a transformative initiative of strategic, defence, and national importance. Sharing an article written by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, the Prime Minister emphasized the project's role in boosting India’s maritime and air connectivity in the vital Indian Ocean Region.

Taking to social media platform X, the Prime Minister’s Office highlighted Yadav’s column, stating: “Union Minister Bhupender Yadav explains that the Great Nicobar Island Project... is a prime example of economy and ecology complementing each other.”

The project, however, has ignited strong political debate, with the Congress party raising serious environmental and social concerns. Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi recently wrote a scathing op-ed describing the development as a “major threat” to one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems, warning of its potential impact on biodiversity and indigenous communities.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, in his article and subsequent posts, defended the government's approach, stating that “every ecological, social, and strategic aspect” has been carefully considered. According to him, the project includes:

• An international container transhipment terminal (ICTT) with a capacity of 14.2 million TEUs
• A greenfield international airport
• A 450 MVA gas and solar-based power plant
• A planned township spanning over 16,610 hectares

Yadav asserted that the project would not harm the tribal populations or the ecological sensitivity of the island, countering claims that it endangers flora, fauna, or local cultures.

Sonia Gandhi, however, painted a starkly different picture, calling the Rs 72,000 crore project a misplaced investment that could bring “existential danger” to the indigenous communities of the island. She also stressed the region's vulnerability to natural disasters, pointing to the long-term risks posed by large-scale development in such ecologically sensitive zones.

The government continues to pitch the project as a balanced effort that seeks to enhance India’s strategic foothold in the Indo-Pacific while maintaining environmental integrity—a claim hotly contested by environmentalists and opposition leaders alike.

As the debate intensifies, the Great Nicobar Island Project stands at the crossroads of national ambition and environmental responsibility.