A bench of the National Green Tribunal giving its green signal to the massive and massively controversial Great Nicobar Island mega project does not come as a surprise. In matters of strategic importance, environmental concerns, no matter how serious, usually play second fiddle. Environmental clearance for the project had already been granted four years ago: the NGT bench was hearing petitions that had been filed in response to that step. In 2023, another NGT bench had constituted a high-powered committee to look into the attendant ecological concerns as well as the allegation that the parts of the project encroach on ecologically-protected coastal areas. But nature andindigenous lives are the proverbial sacrificial lambs in the current template of development pursued by India.

Source: The Telegraph February 18, 2026 02:29 UTC