Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has written to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram raising concerns over the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in connection with the proposed development project on Great Nicobar Island.
In his reply to Oram’s recent letter, Ramesh urged the Centre to ensure that the provisions of the Forest Rights Act are implemented “in letter and spirit” and are also seen to be properly enforced.
The Congress leader alleged that the minister’s response appeared to be an “attempted justification for deliberately ignoring” the rights of local tribal communities protected under the law.
Ramesh said he appreciated the minister for responding to his earlier communication dated May 13, 2026, but expressed concern that the reply did not address the specific legal violations he had pointed out regarding the project.
The proposed Great Nicobar project has sparked debate over its environmental impact and the rights of indigenous tribal communities living in the ecologically sensitive island region.
