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Sonia Gandhi Slams Great Nicobar Project as Ecological Disaster

9/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Sonia Gandhi condemned the Great Nicobar mega-project as an ecological disaster threatening indigenous tribes.
The Rs 72,000 crore project risks displacing the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes while harming their ecosystems.
Gandhi claimed the project ignored legal processes and consultations with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
The Social Impact Assessment excluded indigenous communities as stakeholders.
Estimates indicate 32 to 58 lakh trees may be cut, with insufficient compensatory afforestation plans.
Located in a seismically sensitive area, the project raises safety and environmental concerns.

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Story summary

Sonia Gandhi condemned the Great Nicobar mega-project as an ecological disaster threatening indigenous tribes.
The Rs 72,000 crore project risks displacing the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes while harming their ecosystems.
Gandhi claimed the project ignored legal processes and consultations with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
The Social Impact Assessment excluded indigenous communities as stakeholders.
Estimates indicate 32 to 58 lakh trees may be cut, with insufficient compensatory afforestation plans.
Located in a seismically sensitive area, the project raises safety and environmental concerns.