Ganesh
Port Blair, Feb 01: Baratang Island is one of the most tourist favourite destinations of Andaman and Nicobar Island and this is the reason why thousands of tourists reach Baratang Island everyday. Among other beauties the limestone caves of Baratang perhaps attract more tourists.
To watch these wonder of the nature, the limestone caves, tourist have to travel by small fiber boats to Nayadera area, where a temporary, makeshift, wooden Jetty has been constructed for them. From the wooden Jetty tourists have to walk some distance to reach the caves.
But it has been observed that the temporary wooden Jetty constructed by Forest Department is very small and because of ever increasing pressure of visitors on it, a major accident can happen anytime.
Everyday thousands of tourists are brought to this wooden temporary Jetty and to reach first, everyone tries to climb on the jetty at the same time, putting tremendous pressure on the Jetty.
Pictures available with Andaman Sheekha is enough to prove that how much pressure this wooden temporary Jetty is bearing everyday and if, for any reason, this temporary Jetty collapses any day then it will lead to a major disasters as the creek is infested with crocodiles.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha the Secretary of Fiber Boat Association of Baratang, Mr G Sanju has already raised serious concerns about this issue and demanded for immediate construction of a better and stronger Jetty in the area for the safety of visiting tourist.
This matter was also highlighted when the Lieutenant Governor visited Baratang Island recently but sadly the Boat Operators did not get a favourable reply.
Hope the Administration will examine this fact and do the needful before any major accident.
