Special Correspondent
Port Blair, Mar 19: Red beacon on governments and private vehicles is considered the most sought after style statement and prestige associated with high posts!
All Govt. officials and petty politicians crave for Red beacon as if it is some crown on their head. The red beacon culture flourished throughout the country and streets got jam packed with cars flashing red beacons.
Defense vehicles were also not behind in race and all Commander level officers also fancied red flashers in their govt. and private Cars.
Hon’ble Supreme Court on 10.12.13 came down heavily on state governments for misusing beacons and issued directives to all state governments to review the list of dignitaries and services which needs beacon.
But to the utter disregard to the necessity and need of society, Andaman & Nicobar administration issued Notification No. F.No. MT/3-5/MVD/2009/1861 dated 03.03.14 without discussing the issue with general public, media or Units Heads of various departments of A & N Administration.
As per the notification- 1) Red beacon with flashers are to be used by Lt. Governor, Chief Justice of High Court and Judges of Kolkata High Court. 2) Red beacon without flasher can be installed on cars of Chief Secretary, State Election Commissioner and Commander in Chief, ANC. 3) District Magistrate and Superintendent of District Police along with all Fire Service vehicles were blessed with Amber Light with flasher. 4) Multi Coloured Red, Blue and White lights have been designated for vehicles escorting VIPs and VVIPs and Blue beacons for Ambulance.
The Babus in secretariat clearly ignored the Public representatives of this Island as the Red beacons of MP, Adhyaksh of Zilla Parishad and Chairman of PBMC have been snatched and they have not been included in the list of elite dignitaries of A & N Islands.
The Red Beacon with flashers are generally allotted to Constitutional posts while Blue Beacons are strictly for all emergency service officers and their vehicles and Amber beacons are generally used inside Airport periphery.
Now the administration should clarify what were the ideas behind implementing this strange colour beacon culture in Andaman Islands again!
The instant notification further explains that the DM and SP have been given Amber Beacon as these are operational agencies requiring un-hindered access for maintenance of L & O.
If this Amber beacon is not associated with prestige and bureaucracy why not extend the Amber flasher to SHOs and Exe. Magistrates who are the 1st responders to any L&O situations.
Can a SP or DM manage L&O situations alone without assistance of ground level officers? The SHOs and EMs are ground level officers who are responsible for maintenance of L&O in their jurisdiction area and they must be given top priority on road with absolutely un-hindered approach to disturbed place but the present policy of A & N Administration will provide smooth route to SPs and DMs and bumpy aftermath for SHOs and EMs as they will arrive late at incident spot and will be thrashed by public for arriving late!
If the Administration is serious in obeying the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court and removing the Beacon culture, the Policy of 3 colours Beacon should be implemented firmly, i.e 1) Red beacon with flasher for constitutional posts like Hon’ble Lt. Governor and all Judges of Kolkata High Courts, 2) Red beacon without flasher for Chief Secretary, State Election Commissioner and CINCAN, 3) Blue Beacon with flashers for all emergency service vehicles like Ambulance, Fire Service and all Police vehicles form SHO to DGP and from EMs to DMs. 4) Amber beacons are for special purpose vehicles plying inside an airport periphery.
An alternate western approach is more desirable i.e. Red beacons for all Police & Fire Service vehicles, Blue beacon for all ambulance and paramedic vehicles and Red/Blue/white for patrol vehicles. VVIPs and VIPs should not carry any beacons as their Pilot and Escort vehicles do carry red beacons of Police force. The administration should involve the media, public representatives and all stake holders while framing rules, after all nobody is an Island.
