Navneet & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov 13: Mr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Zilla Parishad Member representing Govind Nagar in Great Nicobar, has described the recently concluded District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting as one of the most encouraging meetings he has witnessed during his ten years of experience in local self-governance.
Having earlier served as the Pramukh of the Panchayat Samiti and subsequently as an elected Zilla Parishad Member for the past five years, Mr. Singh said that with only four to five months remaining in his present tenure, the latest DPC meeting stood out as a significant departure from previous experiences.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, he attributed the visible change in administrative functioning to the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dinesh Sharma. According to Mr. Singh, the presence of an attentive and responsive administrative head has encouraged departments to listen to public representatives, take up their concerns and work towards resolving issues.
He recalled that during the previous nine years, the functioning of the administration had often been disappointing, with limited participation from senior officials in important planning meetings. However, he said the latest DPC meeting demonstrated a noticeable improvement, with Member of Parliament Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, senior officials, departmental secretaries and directors remaining present throughout the proceedings.
Mr. Singh pointed out that all 18 members were given an opportunity to raise development-related concerns concerning their respective constituencies. He appreciated the fact that departmental representatives not only listened to the issues but also explained how the concerns could be addressed and what steps could be taken to implement the proposed works.
Referring particularly to Great Nicobar and Campbell Bay, Mr. Singh expressed appreciation for the efforts made by the Shipping, Transport and Public Works Departments. He said these departments had demonstrated considerable improvement in extending facilities and services to the Southern Group of Islands. He also expressed disappointment over the functioning of the Forest Department, stating that the people of Campbell Bay remained dissatisfied with several issues concerning the department.
During the meeting, Mr. Singh also raised concerns relating to civil aviation connectivity. He said the concerned Civil Aviation Secretary had assured the members that the issues would be addressed at the earliest. Discussions included the possibility of introducing a fixed-wing aircraft service and improving helicopter connectivity. He stated that the existing helicopter service had been affected by maintenance-related issues and that steps were expected to be taken to improve its operational availability and service capacity.
Regarding maritime connectivity, Mr. Singh highlighted the need to increase ship services to Great Nicobar. He pointed out that the present frequency of approximately four ship services per month was insufficient for the requirements of island residents. The Director of Shipping, he said, assured the members that efforts were underway to increase the frequency of services in the near future.
Another major concern raised during the meeting was the persistent shortage and irregular availability of LPG cylinders in Campbell Bay. Mr. Singh explained that the absence of a dedicated cargo vessel for the transportation of essential commodities had repeatedly created difficulties for residents. He said the Supply Department assured the members that the issue would be addressed in coordination with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). He further mentioned that a dedicated vessel was expected to undertake the transportation of LPG cylinders and petroleum products across the islands.
Expressing optimism, Mr. Singh said he hoped that these assurances would translate into concrete action and that residents of Great Nicobar would receive improved essential services and better connectivity.
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Singh reiterated that the administration itself had not changed entirely, nor had the people, but the approach and responsiveness of the administrative leadership had made a considerable difference. He credited Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dinesh Sharma for creating a positive working environment in which departments appeared more willing to listen, respond and undertake development activities.
He said the latest DPC meeting had generated a sense of positive energy across different sectors and expressed hope that the issues raised by elected representatives would receive timely attention and lead to tangible improvements in the lives of island residents.
