Port Blair, October 7: Fisherfolk and residents of Fishermen Colony Dairy Farm, gathered in large numbers were elated when the Lt Governor, Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd), accompanied by the Member of Parliament, Shri B. P. Ray visited them today. The Lt Governor gave a patient hearing to all the woes of the fisherfolk-something that was a rare instance for the community who listed their problems and demands before the LG. After listening to them attentively, he directed the concerned authorities for time bound redressal of all their issues. The most prominent of their demand was the repair of public toilet which was in a dilapidated condition for the last few years. Directions were given by the Lt Governor to PBMC to complete the repair & renovation work of the public toilet and make it functional by the 1st week of November 2014.
Officiating Chief Secretary, Smt Puniya Srivastava, Chairperson PBMC, Shri M Arumugam and a team of senior officers from PBMC and APWD were also present.
Fisherwomen who were also gathered in large numbers demanded daily water supply in their locality. The Lt Governor directed the Secretary (UD) to convene a meeting by inviting all the concerned Departments including the Ward Councillor and work-out a plan to resolve the issue. The Lt Governor also visited the Fish Landing Centre, Junglighat. On the demand of the fishermen for construction of a ramp in the jetty for their usage, he directed the Director (Fisheries) to work-out a proposal in this regard. On the issue of non-functioning of the existing toilet block at the Fish Landing Centre, the Lt Governor directed PBMC to complete the construction of the new toilet block by January 2015 and make the existing toilet block functional by arranging supply of water through tankers till the new block comes up. On the demand of providing electric connection so that fishermen can take up welding & other repair works of their fishing boats, the Lt Governor issued directions to Director (Fisheries) to ensure that the electric meter connection is provided within a week’s time. He expressed his displeasure when pointed out that the application for the electric connection is under process from one month. He warned the officials to be prompt in dealing with such cases.
While expressing his displeasure on the condition of the seafront areas which was filled with filth and litter, scattered everywhere, the Lt Governor called upon the Ward Councillors to organize educative programmes to generate awareness against littering and also to encourage the residents to take up cleanliness drives to make their locality free of litter. “Residents must be educated on the cleanliness aspect and not to make the seafront area an open dumping ground”, he said and added that the residents have to come forward and with the support of PBMC take up cleanliness drives to keep their locality spick & span. PBMC was directed to place sufficient dustbins in the area. The Member of Parliament, Shri Ray also raised various issues concerning to the welfare of the fishermen community. The Chairperson PBMC assured the Lt Governor of prompt follow up action on all the issues.
Thereafter, the Lt Governor visited Japan Tikery. The people of the area expressed their gratitude to the LG for getting their road repaired as promised by him in his previous visit to the area. On the demand for making the toilet block functional, he directed PBMC to take up the repair work of the civic toilet block and make it functional by 15th February 2015. On the request of the Member of Parliament, the Lt Governor walked through the entire stretch of the Japan Tikery road. He directed PBMC to take up the repair of the damaged stretch of the track which poses risk to the citizens. As regard construction of permanent road, directions were given to PBMC to prepare proposals in this regard as per plan priority. Police authorities were directed to ensure that vehicles are not parked in haphazard manner which results in blocking of road and hamper delivery of LPG cylinders to the people.
