Seems to be no end to “march of grave ecological folly in Nicobar”: Congress
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has criticized the government's infrastructure projects in the Great Nicobar Islands, citing ecological concerns. The administration recently withdrew a proposal for a data center project on the islands.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights the ongoing tension between large-scale economic development projects and environmental conservation in sensitive ecological zones.
Saying there seemed to be no end to the “march of grave ecological folly in Great Nicobar”, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday (August 21, 2026) said the “public battle for saving Great Nicobar continues even though the Narendra Modi Government is now 'planting' new reasons for going ahead with it”.
The Rajya Sabha MP and Congress’ general secretary in charge of communications referred to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration’s recent move to first issue an Expression of Interest (EoI) calling for feasibility proposals for a “big energy-guzzling” data centre project on the islands and then “mysteriously” withdraw it, citing “administrative reasons ”.
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