Bureau Report
Port Blair, Apr 22: Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ first Lt. Governor, Mr. M L Kampani today returned back to New Delhi after his nostalgic trip to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the remotest outpost of India, where he served since 1982 to 1985.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha exclusively, Mr. Kampani expressed his happiness to see rapid developments in these Islands.
“Port Blair has taken the shape of good small city. I am very happy because it was a village, almost a village, when I came here. The shipping facilities have made tremendous changes in economy because it easier to get things from mainland and also slightly cheaper. There was no vegetables no fruits at that time and I must pay complements to my successors, they did good job in bringing the Andamans upto this stage and I am sure the present Lt. Governor is very keen to develop these Islands,” Mr. Kampani said.
Remembering about people’s love and affection he said that he got lot of love from people. “They are very nice, simple and not very demanding. I had good equation with them from very beginning and whatever little achievements were done during my time it was because of the good cooperation I got from the people.
“We all worked together and gradually we tried to shape Port Blair into good town and I am very very happy to see the results. There were a lot of problems, which I could solve. One of the problems was the disparity in pay of locals and those, who used to come from outside. They were not getting the allowance, the outsiders were getting and I was able to settle that, which pleased everybody,” he said.
About Andaman Trunk Road he said that there were definite orders by Government of India that it will not be constructed.
“I was able to persuade the then Prime Minister Smti Indira Gandhi that this is the line for people of North and middle Andaman. Fortunately they agreed, but without that permission I already started bus service from Baratang to Diglipur, which was a great relief,” the former Lt. Governor added.
When asked about the present trip he said “It is nostalgic visit for me, made very memorable by the kindness of the present Lt. Governor, General A K Singh. I was in these Islands since 1982 to 1985 end.
The problems at that time were different and now things have improved considerably.”
In his message to people of these Islands, Mr. Kampani said “I wish them all good luck. They should work hard and give full support to Administration so that they could do good for them.”
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