Jairam Ramesh Presses Minister on Great Nicobar Port's Private Shareholding and Ecological Risks

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has written to Union Minister Sarbanand Sonowal, seeking clarifications on the development of a transhipment port under the Great Nicobar Island project. In his letter, Mr. Ramesh raised several questions regarding private participation, shareholding, and the project's environmental implications.

The former Environment Minister urged Sonowal to share details of the timeline for floating tenders to invite private participation for the International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay, and the final selection of the private co-owner and operator. He also asked whether 100% private shareholding would be allowed, given that the minimum private shareholding is set at 55%, or if there is a minimum shareholding by public entities.

Mr. Ramesh noted that the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) of the Ministry of Finance had met on March 17 and 19, 2026, to consider the proposal. He pointed to a record of discussions stating that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways itself identified two major project-related risks: development of a large-scale greenfield port project and the challenge of diverting transhipment traffic from existing well-established ports like Colombo, Singapore, and Port Klang.

“It is extraordinary that even while recognising these huge risks, quite apart from the certainty of ecological devastation that will be caused by its construction, the transhipment port is being pushed through,” Mr. Ramesh wrote. He also questioned whether private ownership of ports would be diversified, or if only one private company would acquire multiple assets, as seen in the case of airports.

Since the PPPAC turned down the Ministry's request for Viability Gap Funding, Mr. Ramesh asked if the Ministry would provide such funding from its own budget. He sought a timeline for floating tenders and final selection of the private co-owner and operator.

This is not the first time Mr. Ramesh has raised concerns about the Great Nicobar Island project. He has previously written to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, highlighting what he termed “ecological havoc” and “demonstrably inadequate” environmental impact assessments. The project, estimated at over ₹72,000 crore, includes a transhipment port, an airport, and a power plant, and has drawn criticism from environmental groups and local communities.