Port Blair, Mar 15: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration to reopen the Hutbay Quarry as soon as possible so that quarry materials become easily available in Little Andaman Island and developmental works can be taken up easily in the Island, which will also generate a lot of employment for local youths.
The Member of Parliament has also requested to issue earth cutting permission for private works in Little Andaman Island so that people who are in genuine need of earth, can arrange the same from the Island.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary the Member of Parliament mentioned that the Quarry at Hutbay area of Little Andaman Island was closed by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration nearly one year back.
He added that closure of the Quarry has brought a bagful of troubles for the residents of Little Andaman Island as lots of construction works have been delayed and many development works could not be taken up in the Little Andaman Island.
The Member of Parliament mentioned that already due to the Covid-19 pandemic the residents of Little Andaman Island have suffered heavily along with the people of the rest of our country and now even when the third wave is over and Covid-19 cases are minimum in our Islands, residents of Little Andaman are unable to take up construction works because of non availability of Quarry materials.
He added that because of the above reasons a lot of daily rated workers are also not getting employment in the Little Andaman Island.
He further pointed out that earth cutting permission for private works is not being issued in Little Andaman Island, whereas for government works the same permission is issued by the Administration.
Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma mentioned that because of this reason, various crucial works in private land viz land filling, blocking ingress of water in farmland, retaining wall construction works etc could not be taken up by the public, even in emergency.
The Member of Parliament further mentioned that in remote Islands like Little Andaman bringing earth from other parts of the Island is impossible and hence for various works, which require earth cutting, people of Little Andaman are finding themselves totally helpless.
