Great Nicobar project: Congress criticises ecological impact, data centre plan withdrawn

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration has withdrawn a proposal inviting private-sector interest in setting up a data centre on the islands, days after it was issued. The withdrawal, citing administrative reasons, has drawn attention from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who said the move should be permanent and renewed his criticism of the larger Great Nicobar Island development project.

Mr. Ramesh, a Rajya Sabha member and Congress general secretary, said on social media that there was no end to the “march of grave ecological folly” in Great Nicobar. He referred to the administration’s recent Expression of Interest (EoI) for a data centre on Little Andaman and Great Nicobar Island as a “big energy-guzzling” project that was withdrawn after four days.

“Hopefully, the withdrawal of the EoI will be permanent,” Mr. Ramesh said, adding that the public battle for saving Great Nicobar continued even though the government was finding new reasons to proceed with the project.

The larger project he referred to is the ₹91,000 crore Great Nicobar Island Development Plan, which includes a transshipment port, an airport, and tourism complexes. Environmental and forest clearances for the project have been granted, but it has faced opposition from local tribal communities and environmental campaigners.

“Genuine local and national interest demands that the project not be taken forward,” Mr. Ramesh said in his post.

The withdrawn EoI had invited feasibility proposals for a private-sector-led green AI data centre in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The administration had said it was exploring private sector interest in building the project near Little Andaman and Great Nicobar Island. Members of the Tribal Council of Great and Little Nicobar have said that locals of Great Nicobar were not informed of any such proposal before it was issued.

The Great Nicobar project has also been challenged in the Calcutta High Court, with cases filed against the clearances granted for it. The Tribal Council has expressed concerns about the impact on indigenous communities and the island’s fragile ecosystem.

Officials have previously defended the project as crucial for India’s strategic presence in the region and for economic development. However, no official statement has yet been issued on the withdrawal of the data centre EoI beyond the administrative reasons cited.