Compensatory afforestation for biodiversity loss in Nicobar is bogus argument: Jairam Ramesh
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the government's compensatory afforestation policy, arguing it fails to mitigate biodiversity loss in the Nicobar Islands. He emphasized the need for a balanced approach between development and environmental protection.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the ongoing tension between India's industrial development goals and the preservation of critical ecological zones.
To think you can deforest in Nicobar and manage its ecological impact by doing some compensatory afforestation in Haryana is a bogus argument, said Jairam Ramesh, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member, speaking at the session titled ‘ From the Aravallis to the Nicobar: At the edge of ecology ’ as part of The Hindu Huddle in Bengaluru on Friday (June 5, 2026).
The article focuses on a critique from an opposition politician regarding government environmental policy.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in