Port Blair, Feb 26: Mr. Abhay Kumar, President , Living On The Edge -LOTE, met the Chief Secretary of Andaman & Nicobar Administration, Mr. Keshav Chandra, IAS recently, and highlighted various issues related to the common people of the islands.
He informed the Chief Secretary that Living On The Edge – LOTE has been taking up the matter of Construction of Bambooflat Chatham Bridge since 2013 and in continuation to it when the last information was received from the NHIDCL and the VKS Infratech , the designated agency for submission of the DPR for this bridge, it is learnt that although the complete DPR is submitted to the MoRTH, the following few matter is still pending and needs to be completed before the next step could be taken for this project .
a) The Electricity department has yet to submit the estimates for shifting of affected electrical utilities which come in the periphery of the proposed 2 lane Bridge connecting Chatham with Bambooflat.
b) The land acquisition proposal for the Bambooflat Chatham bridge project was prepared by the designated agency and was submitted for further processing to the Collector (Land Acquisition) , South Andaman. This procedure is still awaited and may be pursued for early completion.
He informed the Chief Secretary that prior to Covid -19 all the interisland Ship/Boat tickets operated by the DSS were issued from the Common Services Centre (CSC) and it was restricted during the Covid period. I would like to request you to kindly re-start the issuing of these tickets through CSC or even through the website of the administration at par with the BUS tickets
Mr. Abhay Kumar also requested that clear direction indication the necessity to obtain the permission for earth cutting may be issued. As of now, a committee is been constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary (Revenue), A& N to look into the cases. I would to request to kindly designate the area Tehsildar / Executive Magistrate for verifying and issuing small scale permission like construction of one’s individual house, retaining wall, roads, culvert, drains etc, where soil shifting is not involved, other than the major development work of land where soil shifting is involved and such cases may be referred to the newly constituted designated committee.
In respect of issuing boat / ship tickets through CSC and online platform, Mr. Keshav Chandra, IAS, Chief Secretary immediately spoke to the concerned officer to work out the feasibility of issuing the boat/ Ship ticket of DSS on online platform and assured that it will be done in a short span of time. In respect of the other issues the Chief Secretary reportedly assured that necessary action will be taken.
Mr. Abhay Kumar , President LOTE has expressed his gratitude for the patient hearing and prompt action taken by the Chief Secretary of Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
