Scientists, conservationists warn of irreversible damage from govt’s Great Nicobar Project
New Delhi: The Centre’s ambitious Great Nicobar Infrastructure Project has once again come under scrutiny, with over 70 scientists, conservationists, and sociologists writing to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday, warning of its “grave and irreversible negative impacts” on the fragile island ecosystem.
In a strongly worded letter, as cited by Deccan Herald, the signatories accused the government of being “disingenuous” in invoking national security to defend what they described as a largely commercial venture disguised as a strategic project. They also criticised the decision to entrust biodiversity monitoring to a “handful” of institutions that had earlier drafted what they termed “illogical, unscientific and baseless” mitigation plans.
While the government has maintained that the project, which includes a dual-use military-civilian airport, holds strategic and maritime significance, the experts pointed out that the defence component accounts for only about 5 per cent of the total area. The remaining 160 sq km is earmarked for a commercial trans-shipment port, power plant, and township to house around 3.5 lakh settlers, in contrast to the island’s current population of roughly 8,000.
“It is misleading to label a predominantly commercial project as strategic and to cite national security whenever questions are raised,” the letter stated. They noted that excluding the defence enclave of 12.6 sq km, the proposed greenfield township covers over 80 per cent of the total project area.
The conservationists also noted that the proposed translocation of 20,000 coral colonies and crocodiles from Galathea Bay, the creation of artificial enclosures for the Nicobar Megapode (an endemic bird), and measures that would shorten the nesting approach of leatherback turtles by tenfold.
“These are glaring examples of unscientific and baseless mitigation strategies,” the letter said, adding that none of the detailed plans were available on the ministry’s website or through the RTI system.
They further noted that the Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Wildlife Institute of India, and the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, that designed the plans are also tasked with monitoring their implementation, calling it a “clear conflict of interest.”
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Firms being arm-twisted to divert investment from Karnataka: Priyank Kharge
New Delhi (PTI): Companies are being arm-twisted to divert their investments from Karnataka despite the state having the best talent ecosystem, state's IT, biotech and rural development minister Priyank Kharge said on Friday.
The minister said it has taken 40 years to develop the entire ecosystem in the state that suits investors.
"Why is semiconductor going to Gujarat, Assam? That's my question? That's what I have been asking. Why is it going to Gujarat? Why is it going to Assam? When PLI comes, they have to choose their state. The name is Karnataka. How does it become Gujarat by the time the application reaches Delhi? They are coming to my state. Why are they being arm-twisted to Gujarat?" Kharge said.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a roadshow in the national capital for the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026 to be held in November.
"They are coming to our state only. They want to invest in our state. It works out for them. It is profitable for them. Our human resource is one of the most agile and best in the world. But yet, they are going to be pushed to Gujarat," Kharge said.
During the event, Kharge said Karnataka is planning to rejig policy on data centres to promote sustainable data centres.
"There is a serious need for states and the central government to bring up policies for sustainable data centres. That's exactly what the government of Karnataka intends to do," Kharge said.
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