Congress Accuses Centre of Policy Reversal on Great Nicobar Development

The Congress party has launched a sharp attack on the Modi government over its approach to the Great Nicobar development project, describing the move to obtain a court stay on related hearings as an unexpected about-face in policy.

Former Environment Minister expressed dismay at the government's decision, characterising it as an "astonishing U-turn" that raises questions about the project's environmental and social implications. The party has suggested that the government's legal manoeuvres indicate uncertainty about the viability of the ambitious island development scheme.

Despite the government's efforts to pause proceedings, a glimmer of legal hope for project opponents comes from five separate petitions filed by citizens and civil society organisations currently pending in the Calcutta High Court. These petitions represent ongoing judicial scrutiny of the development plans on the Andaman and Nicobar island.

The Great Nicobar project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at developing the remote island territory, has remained contentious among environmental groups and local stakeholders concerned about ecological impact. The legal complexities surrounding the project continue to delay its implementation and generate political controversy across party lines.