Nishar Mohammed & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, May 27: Newly-elected Adhyaksh of the North & Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad, Mr. R. Alager Swamy, along with Upadhyaksha Mrs. Aparna Roy and other Zilla Parishad members, addressed a press conference at the Circuit House, Haddo today and shared details of a recent meeting held with the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Chief Secretary regarding key developmental issues affecting North and Middle Andaman.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Alager Swamy expressed gratitude to the Lt. Governor, Chief Secretary and senior officers of the Administration for giving a patient hearing to the concerns raised by the Zilla Parishad delegation. He said the delegation highlighted a range of issues relating to infrastructure, tourism, sports, welfare and implementation of government schemes in the district.
One of the major demands raised before the Lt Governor was the establishment of a dedicated accommodation facility for Panchayati Raj Institution representatives from North and Middle Andaman visiting Sri Vijaya Puram for official work, medical purposes and administrative meetings. Mr. Alager Swamy pointed out that the district comprises 17 Zilla Parishad constituencies, 37 Gram Panchayats and hundreds of elected representatives, yet there is no dedicated lodging facility for them in the capital. He requested allocation of land and special funding for construction of a Zilla Parishad guest house for representatives from North and Middle Andaman. According to him, the Lieutenant Governor responded positively and assured consideration of the proposal.
The Adhyaksh also thanked the Administration for providing immediate financial assistance of ₹1.5 lakh to the family of the late Nambi Amma, who lost her life in a helicopter crash. He urged the Administration to consider further compensation and employment assistance for the deceased’s family, particularly her son, who is currently without a job. Mr. Alager Swamy said the Lieutenant Governor acknowledged the concern and directed that the matter be processed further.
Highlighting financial constraints faced by the Zilla Parishad, the Adhyaksh requested enhancement of earmarked funds to enable implementation of development projects in sectors such as roads, health and public infrastructure. He stated that North and Middle Andaman requires greater attention to bridge developmental gaps and create opportunities comparable to those available in South Andaman.
Tourism development featured prominently during the discussions. Mr. Alager Swamy said the Lt. Governor shared details of several tourism initiatives being planned for North and Middle Andaman, including projects in Mayabunder, Long Island and Diglipur. He noted that the Administration has already initiated tendering processes for certain tourism-related projects and expressed confidence that these initiatives would significantly boost the district’s tourism potential.
The Adhyaksh particularly welcomed the recognition of the Baratang Mud Volcano as a site of international significance and said such initiatives would enhance the visibility of North and Middle Andaman on the global tourism map. He observed that tourism has already generated substantial employment opportunities in Baratang through boat operations, transportation and related activities and has become an important source of livelihood for local youth.
He also urged the Administration to establish tourism accommodation facilities, including guest houses, in Baratang to encourage longer tourist stays. At present, he said, accommodation options remain limited, affecting the area’s tourism growth despite increasing visitor arrivals to attractions such as the Limestone Caves, Mud Volcano and beaches.
Mr. Alager Swamy appreciated the efforts of district officials, including the Deputy Commissioner, Additional District Magistrate, Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad and Assistant Commissioners, for their continued support in promoting tourism and local development. He emphasized the importance of encouraging homestay initiatives to generate self-employment opportunities for island residents and said the Administration is working towards simplifying procedures to facilitate such ventures.
The Adhyaksh also highlighted the need for greater investment in sports infrastructure across North and Middle Andaman. He said the district has no shortage of sporting talent, but inadequate infrastructure remains a major challenge. Referring to the condition of existing sports facilities, including the Rangat Stadium, he called for modernization of infrastructure and better utilization of schemes under national programmes such as Khelo India.
The delegation further discussed the implementation of government schemes in sectors such as fisheries, power, civil supplies, agriculture and animal husbandry. Mr. Alager Swamy said many welfare schemes have yet to fully reach beneficiaries at the grassroots level and assured that the Zilla Parishad would actively monitor implementation and ensure that eligible residents receive the intended benefits.
Education was another major concern raised before the Administration. The Adhyaksh said several schools in North and Middle Andaman require infrastructure improvements, including additional classrooms, halls and protection from rain during monsoon months. He noted that while teachers are available and educational standards are satisfactory, inadequate funding has affected infrastructure development in some institutions. He expressed hope that Zilla Parishad funds, subject to necessary approvals, could be utilized to address such deficiencies.
The delegation also urged the Administration to operationalize helicopter infrastructure created in various parts of the district. Mr. Alager Swamy pointed out that helicopter landing facilities constructed at considerable public expense remain underutilized in Baratang. He suggested that even limited weekly helicopter services could greatly benefit medical patients, residents of remote areas and tourists.
Concluding the press conference, Mr. Alager Swamy said his tenure as Adhyaksh would be relatively short due to the upcoming election cycle, but he remained committed to maximizing available time for development work. He emphasized that the Zilla Parishad’s various committees, including those dealing with health and education, would focus on field-level implementation rather than remaining confined to paperwork.
Expressing confidence in the support of fellow Zilla Parishad members and government departments, he assured the people of North and Middle Andaman that every effort would be made to bring development projects, welfare schemes and improved public services to the district during the remaining term of the present Zilla Parishad.
