Congress MP Urges PM to Reassess Clearances for Great Nicobar Project

Quick Summary:

• Congress MP Manickam Tagore wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking urgent intervention regarding the Rs 72,000-crore Great Nicobar Project.
• He raised concerns over constitutional and legal rights of the Nicobarese tribes being “threatened” by the project.
• Tagore called for an independent review of forest clearance processes used to divert 13,075 hectares of land and compliance with tribal rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
• He pointed out that the Tribal Council of Great Nicobar rejected claims made by local management that FRA rights were “identified and settled.”
• Tagore demanded suspension of the project until laws are adhered to and tribal forest rights fully recognized. Additionally,he suggested accountability measures for alleged misrepresentation in official reports.
• In his letter, he highlighted that protecting vulnerable groups like Nicobarese tribals is crucial to upholding democratic principles under laws such as Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation, 1956.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
At its core, this issue draws attention to balancing economic progress with safeguarding indigenous communities’ legal protections and environmental conservation efforts. The letter from Congress MP Manickam Tagore underscores potential procedural gaps in granting clearances while amplifying voices from tribal groups who claim violations under FRA guidelines. If substantiated, these allegations could highlight systemic issues affecting stakeholder consultation in mega infrastructure projects-a concern relevant far beyond Great nicobar.

The implications for India could be twofold: ensuring compliance with established frameworks will strengthen trust between marginalized communities and policy actors; conversely,delays or oppositions around sensitive projects may hinder progress toward development goals if approached hastily or without inclusive dialogue.

Read More: Times of India