NGT Clears Great Nicobar Mega Infrastructure Project

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has dismissed fresh pleas challenging environmental and coastal clearances granted to the Great Nicobar Island infrastructure project, allowing it to proceed subject to strict compliance with safeguards. The tribunal acknowledged the project’s strategic importance and held that there was no ground to interfere with the approvals granted in November 2022.

Tribunal Upholds Environmental Clearance

A six-member bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava disposed of two original applications and a miscellaneous plea seeking reconsideration of the environmental clearance (EC). The project comprises an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), township development and a 450 MVA gas- and solar-based power plant.

This marks the second round of litigation over the project. In April 2023, the tribunal had largely upheld the EC and forest clearance but constituted a High-Powered Committee (HPC) to examine concerns relating to coral protection, reliance on single-season environmental data, and alleged construction within ecologically sensitive Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ-IA) areas.

Strategic Significance Emphasised

In its February 16, 2026 order, the tribunal underscored the project’s strategic value due to its proximity to the Malacca Strait. It observed that while environmental safeguards must be respected, the project’s importance for defence and India’s presence in the Indian Ocean region cannot be ignored.

The bench referred to India’s Act East policy and the need to counter growing foreign influence in the Indian Ocean. It termed the location crucial in the broader geopolitical context, calling for a balanced approach between ecological protection and national interest.

Coral Protection and ICRZ Compliance

On the issue of coral reefs, the tribunal relied on findings of the Zoological Survey of India and the HPC. Reports indicated that no major coral reef lies within the direct project footprint at Galathea Bay. Translocation was recommended for over 16,000 coral colonies found within 15 metres depth, while further study was advised for colonies at greater depths.

The NGT noted that destruction of corals is prohibited under the ICRZ Notification, 2019. However, it found no violation at this stage, citing the translocation plan and monitoring mechanisms incorporated into the clearance conditions.

Important Facts for Exams

• Great Nicobar Island hosts 309 species of scleractinian corals across 66 genera and 19 families.
• ICRZ-IA zones are ecologically sensitive and generally prohibit construction activities.
• The Malacca Strait is one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
• The Act East policy aims to strengthen India’s engagement with Southeast Asia.

Future Oversight and Legal Safeguards

While permitting the project to proceed, the tribunal cautioned that any violation of EC conditions could invite fresh legal challenges. It stressed full and strict compliance with environmental safeguards. The order signals judicial endorsement of the project’s strategic objectives, while keeping environmental accountability mechanisms firmly in place.