Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, September 21: The Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr Bishnu Pada Ray lambasted South Andaman District Commissioner and Chief Port Administrator, Port Management Board on the issue of Suspension of eight Catamarans.
Addressing a Press Conference at MP Office this afternoon at around 04:00pm, Mr Bishnu said that the DC, South Andaman and the CPA, PMB for some or the other reasons without mentioning it to the Owners of these eight Catamarans have ordered them to suspend their services since 12th September, 2017 affecting their livelihood.
He said that the all the eight Catamarans have been given permission to ply after all the required Inspections, Survey and IRS was up to the mark and it is still applicable but even though without mentioning the reason to the Catamaran Owners plying between Water Sports to Ross Island and North Bay the DC has suspended their services.
Later addressing the Press Conference, one of the Catamaran Boat Owner, Mr Aadil said that the DC served us a notice on 12th of September, 2017 to stop our services, without mentioning the reason, it has affected our livelihood.
“It is a start of the Tourist Season and tourists have already booked our services at least 3 months back but as we are ordered not to ply, the tourists are now blaming us for not providing the services,” Mr Aadil said.
“When we say the Tourists that we have been ordered not to ply, they reply that as we are lacking something being the reason of such orders but we still don’t know what we are lacking,” Mr Aadil said.
The MP further said that he in all aspects is supporting the Catamaran Owners and he will put all possible efforts to resume the services of the Catamarans and if required he will also raise the issue in the parliament about the DC, CPA for unnecessarily suspending the Catamarans and many other issues pertaining to these islands.
Later giving good news the MP said that most probably before the Puja, 1/30th plus DA will be implemented for the DRMs. The MP said that recently he visited Car Nicobar and he is impressed with the work of APWD for providing better Drinking Water facilities to the villagers of Kinyuka, Aaron etc.
