Muralidharan Pillai & DJ Venkatesh
Port Blair, Aug 4: Despite repeated reports in the local media warning the administration of impending commotion in the North and Middle Andaman region during the monsoon season, the Andaman Public Works Department has failed to ensure repairs of ATR road vulnerable to landslides. A huge chunk of the ATR road between Jirkatang and Middle Strait collapsed during the recent incessant rains and movement of traffic has been put under heavy restrictions leading to severe shortage of essential commodities and petroleum products in the North and Middle Andaman region.
According to reports, the District Administration has completely prohibited the movement of cargo vehicle carrying essential supplies and Oil tankers on the ATR while regulating movement of passenger buses and private vehicles.
Bus passengers are being disembarked at the landslide hit ATR stretch and asked walk the distance while the empty bus traverses the dangerous stretch to reach a safer point.
Worst affected are the residents of various parts of the North and Middle Andaman region where severe crisis of essential commodities and petroleum products looms large following the bar on movement of cargo vehicles. Sources claim that stock of essential commodities, diesel, petrol and LPG refills have dried up in many parts of Middle Andaman while Diglipur and Mayabunder in North Andaman are grappling over limited availability of the essential commodities.
“Residents of North and Middle Andaman have always been victims of administrative apathy. Landslides occur every year during the rainy season in various part of the ATR cutting off supply of essential commodities to the region. But the APWD, instead of taking measures for permanent prevention of the recurring mudslides, resort to temporary arrangements like fitting wooden poles or ballies at the vulnerable stretches. The recent landslides between Jirkatang and Middle Andaman have put the residents of this district in a state of extreme unrest. Stocks of essential commodities and petroleum products have exhausted in different parts of Middle Andaman leaving the residents in the lurch. Areas in the North Andaman region are battling with the limited stocks available and the entire district will be left in a state of severe crisis in just a couple of days, if the movement of cargo vehicles is not resumed,” said some residents of Rangat.
The Lt. Governor has however took this matter very seriously now and has directed the Shipping department to immediately deploy ships to transport sufficient amount of diesel to ensure that uninterrupted generation of power supply is maintained in North & Middle Andaman.
People think that there is a need to take some action also in this regard. APWD officials who did not repair the landslide prone roads since more than a year must be questioned for this major lapse. After all, this lethargic attitude has put entire North and Middle Andaman high and dry.
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