E Arun & Tarun Kartick
Port Blair, Feb 07: Once again playing the card of Buffer Zone, the lone Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray today said that Andaman and Nicobar Administration is showing examples of bad governance.
Addressing a press conference today at BJP Office , the MP alleged that the Buffer zone in these Islands has been implemented just because of the Congress Leaders, Congress Party and the head of these Islands.
He further stated that in the notification dated 17th January 2013 thirty villages are kept out of the buffer zone but still some commercial activities are barred in these villages, he questioned the administration that if those villages are kept out of the buffer zone then why some sorts of commercial activities are barred there.
Mr. Ray also pointed out that it has been more than twenty years that ATR has started functioning and Mr. Atal Bihari Vajaypee led government had also declared the ATR running from Chidiyatapu to Diglipur as National Highway.
“ATR has developed the Andaman and Nicobar Economy to a great extent along with improvement in facilities to the residents of the N&M Andaman District but the current Govt. under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh and with support of the UPA, Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has put their constant efforts to close ATR along with full support from the Lt. Governor (Head of Administration) of these Islands,” he alleged.
He also stated that in these twenty years many Prime Ministers have changed and none of them have tend to close the ATR but the present Govt. did it and without even asking the views of the General Public residing in the areas. He requested the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to ask the people once before filing the Petition.
Mr. Ray further stated that the Administration has presented such a picture of the status of Jarawa in the Supreme Court of India that it had to give decisions in favour of the buffer zone whereas he said the reality is totally different and The Parliamentary Standing Committee on visit to these Islands had recommended to mainstream the Jarawa Tribes but the Administration is not in favour of it and feels that ATR too is a threat for the JARAWA tribes.
He also added that the 1 Km area in sea from Tirur to Chainpur is declared as Jarawa Reserve Area and if anybody is found entering the above said area he has to undergo imprisonment for three years however it has not been implemented now and enforcing these laws will totally hamper the Public as if anybody mistakenly also enters the sea declared as the Jarawa reserve area he will get arrested.
Mr. Vishal Jolly said that while the construction of the ATR many workers have lost their lives as Jarawas were pure tribes then and they dint hesitate to kill any outsider and if ATR is closed then Jarawas will again tend to come towards Ferrargung, Jirgatang and they may again start attacking the people.
“Today Jarawas are aware of the medical facilities and they want to study and come to main stream and nobody should hamper their development,” Jolly said adding that administration to present the real facts in front of the authorities.
Supporting his allegations on the administration for bad governance the MP said that that the examples of bad governance are Submerged Land, Buffer Zone, ATR closing Issue, PAT regulation in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Further talking about the status of Education in these islands the Member of Parliament said that the funds are not reaching the students in an effective manner and the Administration is not at all working for the benefit of the Islanders rather it is hampering the development of the Islands. He further stated that the wages of the teachers in the Vivekananda Zilla Parishad and Nagar Palika Schools are less than the minimum mark today and this is unfortunate and he requested the Administration to support the schools just they are supporting the Nirmala and MES schools which are also private run schools.
Mr. Vishal Jolly , State President, BJP further speaking on the issue of the Vivekananda Zilla Parishad School and Nagar Palika Schools has said that these schools should not be seen as BJP run schools and the education department should support these schools in the manner that they are supporting other schools.
Speaking on the occasion of the Basant Panchmi holiday issue Mr. Jolly questioned the Education Department that who has demanded holiday on Basant Panchmi cancelling the holiday on Shiv Ratri while the students pray the goddess of knowledge Saraswati on this day, Mr. Jolly further said that on Basanth Panchami to protest against this, BJP will organize prayers in front of the gates of schools.
