Ganesh Sarkar & Rakesh Sarkar
Port Blair, June 29: As pilferage of oil from crucial departments like Electricity and Transport have become a common phenomenon in these islands, rampant stealing of diesel from STS buses and depots in Power Houses by lower-level employees has emerged as a major reason for shortage of fuel in the government agencies.
While the Lt. Governor in recent past during a programme had expressed concern over high consumption of fuel in these islands, rampant pilferage of HSD oil particularly from STS buses continues unabated in different parts of these islands.
Andaman Sheeka has clinching evidence about how STS Bus Drivers and Conductors connive to steal and vend diesel from government buses.
A team of Andaman Sheekha & Channel One News Little Andaman unit recently found how fuel is openly being stolen from STS buses after local residents complained about the same.
While ascertaining the veracity of the complaints, the Andaman Sheekha & Channel One News team found a Driver of the STS Department openly allowing some people to open the fuel tank and bring out fuel, after the bus is parked in a lonely area of V K Pur.
The person who was taking out fuel from STS bus initially tried to evade the cameras and after failed attempts attacked and threatened the media team of dire consequences if the issue was reported in the local and national media.
Similar threat was issued earlier to a resident of Little Andaman, when he had earlier recorded the video in his mobile phone.
Pilferage of oil from STS buses has assumed alarming proportions, many believe. Drivers and Conductors of STS buses openly draw oil from the bus tanker and vend them to private retailers in their bid to generate more income.
“The top brass of the administration should take stern steps against government employees who resort to unethical means and cause losses to the government treasury,” said some residents of Hut Bay.
When contacted, a senior official of the Transport Department at Port Blair refused to comment on the issue.
However, when contacted a senior officer of STS Department at Little Andaman, who does not want his name to be quoted said, “Such things happens. People who have personal enmity often put such blames on us.” At that time he was unaware that every statement was recorded by Andaman Sheekha team in hidden Camera.
Later the senior officer also warned the media team that if this matter is carried in media unit and any pressure comes on them, there will be serious disruption in bus service of Little Andaman.
Andaman Sheekha is fully confident that in this case of open smuggling and open threatening to media, Administration won’t take any step. The smugglers will get political immunity and cover. Perhaps things will continue the way, it was always. Atleast this will serve as eye opener for Administration, which is only good in issuing rejoinders in Government run Newspaper and serving legal notice to media houses.
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