Sanjib Kumar Roy
Port Blair, Feb 26: Though the Supreme Court of India has barred government or private buses or other commercial vehicles from carrying tourists through the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR), yet nearly 70 IFS trainee (who are not Islanders) were allowed to cross, Jirkatang- Middle Strait stretch of Andaman Trunk Road in Private Buses on Monday and Tuesday.
According to information received here nearly 31 IFS trainees travelled through ATR yesterday in a private bus, Shahi’s Coach. These trainees crossed Jirkatang Check Post yesterday morning and reached Baratang Jetty, from where they were taken to Limestone Caves in three private dinghies namely, Sri Ganga, King Cave and Parrot Island. Today all the 32 trainee IFS officers returned back to Port Blair again in the same bus, crossing Jarawa Tribal Reserve area of Andaman Trunk Road.
The matter does not end here, this morning again another batch of around 35 IFS Trainees were taken to Baratang in a private bus namely, Dhanalakshmi. These IFS officers were also taken to Limestone Caves in two private dinghies and one departmental dinghy. The second batch of IFS officers will return back to Port Blair tomorrow again via ATR, it is learnt.
Andaman Sheekha tried to cross check the matter with the Superintendent of Police of South Andaman but his mobile phone was unreachable from 8.15 pm to 9.00 PM.
When other sources in Police Department were contacted they replied that these IFS trainees were allowed to use Andaman Trunk Road because they had an official order issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and the order was also signed by the IG Police.
This shows that the visit has been shown as official visit by the Administration but if this was an official visit then why these IFS trainees were taken to Limestone Caves in private dinghies like tourists? Isn’t it clear cut violation of Supreme Court Order?
On one hand nearly 2500 tour operators and travel agents (direct victim of ATR closure) have lost their prime source of income due to closure of Andaman Trunk Road on the other hand such indirect government sponsored tourism is making mockery of the law and also Supreme Court’s order.
If sending these IFS trainees to Baratang was so important why the Administration did not arrange a boat for them? When the Administration can ask tourists to use boats to reach N & M Andaman why these IFS officers were not sent to Baratang by boat?
Publishing a counter reply against all report carried out by local media has become a trend in all local departments, and in this case also it is expected that the Forest Department will soon come up with an explanation but ultimately it is the truth that trumps. Hope the Chief Secretary will look into this matter and will support the truth by taking action in this case.
There was an opportunity to take the group (IFS Trainees) to Baratang by sea route and set a precedence. But the way the authorities conducted the tour to Baratang, it goes on to prove RULES and REGULATIONS are meant for commoners.
It is really unfortunate that these are the peoples on whome onus of implementation of rule provision lies. What a dirty joke they have cracked on the face of the law.
These rules are meant for common man and not for the VIP’s. There is a provision of entering the name by showing the documentary proof to be a resident of these Islands at Jirkatang when you are performing onward journey and at Middle Strait return journey. One has to wait for hours for the same. And if one doesn’t posses the documentary proof then he/she is not allowed to cross the Jarawa reserve. Then how these IFS officers were allowed to travel? What about the documentary proof?
It means that law and order is only meant for the common man and not for the Officers/VIP’s.
Into the issue of Human safari,I welcome and thankful on the latest order of the highest court of the country not allowed to cross the Jarawa reserve through ATR.
My opinion, the order should be obeyed in all respects.
The Tribal of Andaman should be brought to the main stream so that,people got less interested to see them as we see animals in the zoo.