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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1486
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026
Tribal consent for Great Nicobar project
1486. SMT. PRIYANKA CHATURVEDI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Nicobar Tribal Council has signed a "surrender certificate" on January 7, 2016
for ₹81,800 crore Great Nicobar project;
(b) the justification for environmental clearances despite the Council withdrawing the 2022
NOC, citing "misleading information," violating mandatory NCST consultation;
(c) whether forcing Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups to surrender tsunami-destroyed
villages violates the Forest Rights Act, requiring free, prior, informed consent;
(d) whether despite consistent opposition, 130 sq km of forest diversion, 8.5-58 lakh tree
felling, turtle nesting habitat destruction have continued; and
(e) the accountability for clearances without genuine tribal consent, prioritising infrastructure
over constitutional safeguards?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a), (b), (c) and (e) As per the information received from the Andaman and Nicobar
Administration, the matter pertaining to the Great Nicobar project is currently Sub Judice before
the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkotta in Original
Application (OA) No 93/2024/EZ, Original Application (OA) No. 95/2024/EZ, M. A No.
23/2024/EZ in Appeal No.32/2022/EZ and before the Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta in W.P.A
(P) No. 12 of 2024, WPA (P) No. 16 of 2025 and W.P.A (P) No. 17 of 2025.
Therefore, as such no comments are offered.
(d) The Stage-II or final approval for the project ‘Sustainable Development of Great Nicobar
Island’ has not been granted so far. The project has only been granted an ‘In- Principle approval’
under the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 and rules
thereunder. Only after receiving the Stage-II approval and final order for diversion of forest land
for non-forestry use, the project activities can be initiated.
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