Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, June 27: The Chief Secretary A & N Islands Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS visited Diglipur today.
As per report, on arrival of the CS at the Helipad at Vidyasagarpally here by chopper, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar was given a warm welcome by Shri Sribash Das, Adhyaksh, Zilla Parishad, N & M Andaman and other PRI Members. The Assistant Commissioner, Diglipur, Shri Kamleswar Rao S (IAS) was present at the helipad to receive The Chief Secretary.
Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by the Diglipur Police on his arrival at APWD Guest House, Diglipur.
The CS was accompanied by Secretary (RD/Panch/PRI), Chief Engineer (APWD) Sh TK Prijit Rekh and Revenue RD Secretary. The CS held a meeting with the PRI Members of Diglipur in the Conference Hall of APWD Guest House, Diglipur. The meeting was also attended by departmental heads and officials/staff. At the outset, the ACDP welcomed the CS and other official dignitaries present in the meeting.
The PRI elected Members raised a host of issues in the meeting and urged the CS for their early solution.
Smti. Suniti Haldar, ZPM, Keralapuram constituency, said that it is imperative that Bengali teachers should be provided to the Bengali medium schools so that students find no hurdle in their learning process. Implementation of “Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya)”, issuance of sea sand, appointment of gynecologist and sinologist for ultrasound machine in CHC, Diglipur, passenger and cargo ship service from Diglipur to Kolkata were other demands vehemently raised by Mrs. Halder. In reply the CS said that M V Swaraj Dweep is now ready for service between our islands and mainland. The DEO, Diglipur Mrs. Sulchana said that at present there is reportedly a shortage of Bengali teachers and the Bengali teachers will reportedly be posted according to the need of the respective school.
Mr. Pradeep Das, ZPM, R.K. Gram constituency demanded for an indoor stadium, a good park for children and senior citizens in Diglipur; and he also urged to expedite the pending works in the Office of the Assistant Commissioner, HQ Mayabunder. Shri Shyamol Bhowmick, Pradhan, GP Ramkrishnagram alleged in the meeting that Work Orders aren’t not implemented in time which reportedly hampers the developmental works. He urged the CS for necessary approval in MGNREGA for employment. He further said that there is reportedly sheer shortage of revenue staff, especially Patwari & Surveyor which needs to be immediately resolved. He further emphasized the need for early upgradation of the CHC to a Sub-District Hospital. Shri Swapan Das, Pradhan, Gandhinagar Panchayat raised several issues reportedly concerning his panchayat. He said that GP Gandhinagar was established in 2010, but there is reportedly no revenue land for Gandhinagar Panchayat while he has reportedly applied for it several times on the concerned portal. The seven (07) km road under APWD needs immediate to be paved and constructed, he said. There is a requirement of allotment of land for markets, and other community welfare infrastructure, he demanded. Mr. Das also demanded STS buses for school trips in the area. In quick reply, the CS reportedly impressed upon the concerned STS officials to arrange to ply STS buses to transport students. Shri Nilu Majumdar, Pradhan, GP Shibpur Panchayat raised issues in regard to fish seeds and also alleged that various schemes under Fisheries were not implemented and benefits not received by the stakeholders. The CS asked the Secretary Fisheries to look into the matter and redress the problems. Shri PR Singaram, Pradhan, GP Subhash Gram said that his Panchayat is reportedly facing a severe fund crisis to implement the works. He requested the CS to appoint an EE for Panchayats, and if not possible, then EE APWD, Diglipur should be given authority to execute works of PRIs, he emphasized. He also demanded for construction of the first floor of Diglipur Vegetable Market building which is an urgent need of the hour to cater to the needs of the vegetable vendors and farmers. Shri PR Singaram also apprised the CS of the trouble faced by the residents of Subhashgram area where people have to face the wrath of the scarcity of water during dry season; and hence he urged that Subhashgram pipeline is connected to Lamya Bay water source to eliminate the problem. Smti. Anita Mandal Pradhan, GP Keralapuram requested that the pipeline under Jal Jeevan Mission is extended in Keralapuram, which is reportedly in jeopardy for 3 years, she alleged. She also urged to augment funds for sanitation sector and requested for a pickup van for transportation purposes in the sector. A Jetty has been constructed at Smith Islands but necessary approval hasn’t been reportedly accorded for construction of a connecting road, she said. Smti. Rita Mondal, Pradhan, GP Kishorinagar said that the GSSS, kishorinagar is plagued with a number shortcomings: there is no shed hall in the school, water leaks from the roof in the classroom, drinking water problem, she apprised. The rural roads are dilapidated condition while there is reportedly severe problems in Electricity supply in the area, she said. There is reportedly BSNL network issue which needs to be redressed; and she also demanded an increase the number STS bus trips on the route in her area.
The Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti Diglipur, Mr. Dipankar Mistry said that there is a dire need for allocation of new quarries for Diglipur sub-division. The owners of cultivable land in Diglipur and elsewhere in N & M Andaman are gradually losing their land by the continual soil erosion and hence the stakeholders should be aptly compensated with land in lieu of the land they have so far lost. He further emphasized the urgency of opening up of the Sub-District Hospital in Diglipur without further delay. The need for installation of lights and boundary fencing of the stadium also found place in Pramukh’s demand. He said that a Polytechnic college was allotted but work hasn’t reportedly been started yet, and which should be started on priority, he said. A concrete and a permanent solution to the menace of stray cows/cattle in Diglipur, construction of operation site and shelter, development of tourism etc are the spheres where the Administration should still to work on, the Pramukh observed.
Shri Sribas Das, newly elected Adhyaksh, ZP, N & M Andaman, Mayabunder urged the Chief Secretary to increase the frequency of boat service in the inter islands. He also said that there is a requirement of construction of a STS Bus Stand on the bank of Kalpong River, he said.
The Chief Secretary reportedly assured all PRI members that the concerns raised by PRIs will reportedly be addressed on priority, the report further said.
