Overview
- The Public Accounts Committee took suo motu cognisance of the Great Nicobar Project on Wednesday and directed Home Secretary Govind Mohan to submit a comprehensive report after BJP members said the issue was off the meeting agenda.
- The panel took serious note of the Andaman and Nicobar chief secretary’s absence from the meeting and asked the Home Secretary to explain why the official did not attend.
- MPs flagged sharply different estimates for trees to be felled, citing figures around 1.5 crore against the government’s claim of a little over 7 lakh, and raised concerns about rainforest loss and possible displacement of the Shompen and Nicobarese communities.
- Separately, the CAG audit of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences found major gaps in funding, construction and equipment—more than 40% shortfall in prescribed medical devices and only five functioning operation theatres—and officials from the Home Ministry have pointed to the Health Ministry as the executing authority.
- The PAC will review the Home Ministry report before deciding next steps; the Great Nicobar Project covers about 166 sq km and proposes a transshipment port, an international military-civilian airport, power infrastructure and a new township, all of which could reshape the islands’ ecology and local livelihoods.