Hut Bay, Nov 04: The Chief Secretary, alongwith a team of key Secretaries and other senior officers undertook a tour at far located islands at Hutbay and Car Nicobar from 3rd to 4th November 2015. They first operated the Mini Secretariat at Hutbay and held the meeting with the PRIs and the public in APWD Guest House. Among many other issues, the main complaint was with regard to inadequate shipping service facilities and the PRIs cited recent incident wherein after the puja holidays, many passengers including students were stranded. They also mentioned about unhygienic conditions inside the ship and issuance of tickets at Haddo Wharf. After having being informed by the DSS about the steps taken by the department for avoiding such incidents in future, the Chief Secretary assured that this like situation would not be allowed to take place in future and directed the Shipping Department accordingly on which the PRIs expressed their satisfaction. The Chief Secretary also directed the Electricity Deptt./ Health Deptt./ Forest Deptt, Civil Supplies and District Administration etc for timely attending to the issues relating to their respective Departments.
After Hutbay, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration alongwith his team visited Car Nicobar and held detailed meeting in the Community Hall, Perka Village, Car Nicobar. A meeting was attended by Vice Chief Captain, Tribal Council, Tribal Leaders and large local residents apart from the Officers of the line Departments. The Tribal leaders raised various issues concerning their day to day lives and requested for intervention by the Administration. The issues raised include extension of break-water, construction of sea wall at Mus village, construction of interior roads in villages, improving BSNL connectivity, continue power supply, medical coverage and improvement of shipping services. The Chief Secretary and his team heard the Tribal Leaders in detail and on the spot directions were given by the Chief Secretary to the concerned Head of Departments for timely action. A field inspection was also conducted at the site of purposed sea wall at Mus village.
Shri N.K.Sharma, Secretary (Home, Civil Aviation, RD/PRIs) who is the Nodal Secretary of this tour informed the gathering at both the places that this tour was part of the efforts of the Administration to provide a responsive and people friendly administration to the people of the islands. He further mentioned that the Secretaries and HoDs have been instructed by the LG and the Chief Secretary to gear up for this and to make all efforts to settle maximum local issues on the spot while major issues which may require further examination shall be dealt with in time bound manner from Headquarter, Port Blair.
Shri N.K.Sharma, Nodal Secretary informed that the visit was very meaningful and successful and the PRIs and Tribal Council representatives at Hutbay and Car Nicobar respectively expressed their hearty thanks to the visiting team under the Chief Secretary. He further informed that the team would visit Kamorta and Campbell Bay on 5th/6th November to review the development works/ redress public grievances.
