Jairam Ramesh urges INS Baaz expansion

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to reconsider the rejection of the full expansion of the India — INS Baaz runway as an alternative to building a new greenfield airport on India — Great Nicobar Island. Ramesh argues that the proposed site for the new airport at Gandhi Nagar-Shastri Nagar would cause severe ecological damage, including cutting down forest-covered hills, encroaching on tribal land, and impacting protected coastal zones with turtle nesting beaches and coral reefs. He highlights that the site is an Important Bird Area and lies on international bird flyways. The India — Ministry of Finance (India) has previously stated that expanding India — INS Baaz beyond 4,500 feet would also have ecological impacts, a concern Ramesh finds ironic given the scale of destruction planned for the new site. Rahul Gandhi has also criticized the project, alleging it is for the benefit of a single businessman rather than strategic interests. The India — Great Nicobar Island Project includes an international container transshipment port, a civilian-cum-naval airport, a township, and a power plant, with the government defending its strategic and economic importance.