The National Green Tribunal (NGT) did reject an appeal against its environmental clearance (EC) on February 16, 2026, clearing the Great Nicobar Island Development Project (GNIDP). Justice Prakash Shrivastava who led a six-man bench believed that there was no good reason to intervene based on the strategic worth of the project and adequate protection. It has received an estimated value of 81,000-92,000 crore, in which 166 sq km is covered by transshipment port, airport, township, and power plant with forest cover inhabited by Nicobarese and Shompen tribes.

​Project Overview

GNIDP will transform the Great Nicobar to be a marine trading, military and tourist hub to become one of the key presences of India in the Indo-Pacific. These are the main elements of the international airport and deep-sea port Galathea Bay, gas-solar power plant, and 3 lakh people and township above 30 years. On the loss of biodiversity, ecologically sensitive areas contain about 130 sq km of pure forest which is a threatening development.

The Union government rationalized it as a national property that needed conservation in 30 years and monitoring and mitigation using the best available scientific facilities.

Major Reasons of NGT to be cleared.

Strategic Imperative: NGT stressed national security, economic prosperity, and sea presence, and they are critical in the framework of the confrontation between the area. It monitored the impact that the project would have on the strategic footprint of India.

Environmental Protection: The tribunal deemed EC conditions to be satisfactory, i. e. lack of constructions in the CRZ-IA (most sensitive coastal areas) based on the standards of ICRZ-2019. This was checked with a High Powered Committee that kicked out any suspicion of CRZ violation.

No Interference Warranted: NGT scrutinized clearances vigilantly, and tribal rights were also frustrated by the clearances with petitions reported to be irreversible ecological damage and violation of tribal rights, but the tribunal became unable to find any substantial grounds. It was very rigid in the supervision of forests, corals and wildlife.

Addressing Criticisms

The critics such as 70+ experts warned that the impact on endemic species, Shompen PVTG and coral reefs are serious. An ecological catastrophe was panicked over by the diversion of forests (more than 16,000 ha) and the dredging of the bays. NGT countered this with compulsory research and mitigation in the long term and demanded assured protection on speculative risks.

Still, consent of tribal people under FRA-2006 remains to be controversial, but the government called consultations and benefits of the development.

​Conclusions and Future Projections.

One of the biggest obstacles in the implementation despite opposition is cleared with the clearance of the obstacle. Project will offer jobs, trade (25 percent IndiaChina cargo), and infrastructure although this will need urgent supervision.

NGT directed authorities to adhere to the whole ecology through the balancing of development and ecology. The case of strategic-environmental tightrope is Nicobar wherein India considers blue economy.