E Arun
Port Blair, Jan 04: Dozens of public from Rajiv Nagar (near PSBD office of APWD) today protested against the move of APWD to construct a park on a vacant land, which is the only entry and exit point for nearly 30 families living there.
Protesting public alleged that the Andaman PWD is constructing a park on the area, on the directions of some top officials living nearby. They alleged that APWD is not even leaving a 3 mtr space for footpath for movement of vehicles from the densely populated area.
“We need the passage for entry and exit of heavy vehicles, as in case of fire or any other emergency needs we will become totally helpless. Often during summer season we need to call water tankers, for which hardly 3mtrs space is not sufficient. For the comfort of one top officer, the Administration can’t compromise with our safety, this is dictatorship, this is injustice,” said a protesting public.
However, after the protest the work was halted for the day. A report was immediately sent to the superior officers by the PBSD division.
When contacted by Andaman Sheekha, none of the officials of PBSD were ready to comment on the record, fearing backfire from superior officers. Even till late evening some senior officers of PBSD were pleading for anonymity.
However, one senior officer of District Administration has accepted, on the condition of anonymity, that the park is being constructed as one of the Senior Officer of A & N Administration is not comfortable with presence of ‘lot of public’ infront of the official Banglow.
“Lot of people sits just outside the Bungalow of and create nuisance during evening hours, which will obviously make anybody uncomfortable,” he said.
When Contacted the SDM asked Andaman Sheekha reporter to meet the DC and when approached, the DC was too busy to comment. “DC sahab is too busy with all pending works of past one week,” was the reply from DC office.
Sources told Andaman Sheekha that this evening the DC and the SDM visited the site but the reason behind this visit is still unknown.
Residents of the area fear that with police protection that APWD may again initiate the construction works and complete the work within one day, which will put them in soup.
A group of people living on the area are now trying to obtain a stay order from court against this construction work.
“The Lt. Governor must personally inspect this place to understand that how some of his subordinates are dictating their terms by compromising with the safety and comfort of General Public,” said another resident of the area.
The most shocking fact is that when Andaman Sheekha demanded the order copy for construction of the park neither the APWD nor the South Andaman District Administration were ready to share the order copy, which proves that something is definitely fishy in this entire issue.
