NEW DELHI: Acknowledging its strategic importance and satisfied that enough safeguards were provided with “no ground to interfere”, the National Green Tribunal dismissed fresh challenges to environmental and coastal clearances granted to Great Nicobar Island infrastructure project, allowing it to proceed with “full and strict compliance” with all safeguards.A six-member bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava disposed of two original applications and a miscellaneous plea seeking to revisit the environmental clearance granted in Nov 2022 to the project comprising an international container transshipment terminal (ICTT), township development and a 450 MVA gas- and solar-based power plant.This was the second round of litigation over the project by environmental activist Ashish Kothari. In April 2023, while largely upholding the EC and forest clearance, the tribunal constituted a high-powered committee (HPC) to examine three specific concerns – protection of corals, reliance on single-season environmental data, and the allegation that part of the project fell in ecologically sensitive ICRZ-IA (Island Coastal Regulation Zone) areas where ports are prohibited. ICRZ-IA under the ICRZ notification represents ecologically sensitive and geomorphological features such as mangroves and corals, which are crucial. They are no-construction zones. In its order dated Feb 16, 2026, the tribunal held that these concerns were examined and addressed. The bench specifically underscored the project’s strategic significance, citing its location near the Malacca Strait and its role in strengthening India’s presence in the Indian Ocean region. “It is a clear case where neither strategic importance of the project can be denied nor the conditions of ICRZ notification can be ignored or marginalised. Hence, a balanced approach is required,” it said. It added, while quoting the EC granted, that, “the project is important for India from the defence and strategic point of view”. The tribunal reiterated the strategic benefits of “strong presence in Indian Ocean region to counter the pressure being built by foreign powers growing presence… (and) capturing the strategic location to develop a new economic hub in Indian Ocean region.” “The area is located in China’s ‘string of pearls’ strategy which is sought to be countered by Indian authorities under India’s ‘Act East’ policy. Indian Ocean has emerged as a key intersection zone of Indian and Chinese strategic interests,” the order quotes. On corals, the bench relied on findings of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the HPC, which reported that no major coral reef exists within the direct project footprint at Galathea Bay. “In respect of translocation and threat of corals, ZSI conducted a study and submitted the report before the high-powered committee… Translocation was suggested of 16,150 colonies found within 15 metres depth in proximity of the project. Study was suggested for the remaining 4,518 colonies at 15-30 m depth. The high-powered committee examined this issue and agreed with the recommendation of ZSI,” stated the order. A total of 309 species of scleractinian corals under 66 genera and 19 families are recorded from the Great Nicobar Island. The NGT noted that destruction of corals is prohibited under the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) Notification, 2019, but found no violation at this stage, given the translocation plan and monitoring mechanisms built into the EC. However, it cautioned that any violation of EC conditions would expose the project to fresh legal challenge.
