Vikramaditya & IPT Input
Port Blair, Dec 10: Mr. R. Alager Swamy, Up-Adhyaksh, Zilla Parishad, North & Middle Andaman and Mr. G. Kurma Rao, District General Secretary, BJP alongwith a delegation of Fibre Boat owners of Baratang called on Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency at Raj Niwas today. The delegation discussed streamlining of procedures for facilitating operation of FRP boats in A&N Islands.
During the meeting the leaders of Baratang demanded changing of OBM operators and GP Rating in certain emergent cases when ever needed to another fiber boat and also allowed to deposit the cash challan at Baratang Island; Starting of courses of OBM operator and GP Rating periodically at Govt. Polytechnic College, Port Blair and reduction in berthing charges of tourist fiber boat stationed at Nilambur Jetty in Baratang.
The Lt. Governor reportedly told the delegation after studying the matter he will issue necessary directions to solve this issue.
Earlier in a letter addressed to the Lt Governor, the Up- Adhyaksh, North and Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad, Mr Alager Swami had urged the Lt Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands to allow the OBM operators to ply fibre boats for atleast 03 more months, who have not completed the capsule course conducted by the DBRAIT, Port Blair.
Mr Alager Swami had stated that he is not contradicting the rules that are currently followed instead, he is only requesting to allow OBM operators to ply the boats for atleast 03 more months, so that the visitors won’t face any difficulties to visit limestone cave and in return this will help the fibre boat owners to pay their loan availed from the bank.
“Due to non- completion of the course the OBM operators are unable to operate fibre boats following which around 50 fibre boats are anchored at Baratang and are not in operation resulting in the tourist to face a lot of hardship,” he had added.
Mr Alager on behalf of the fibre boat owners, had also requested the Lt Governor to direct the concerned authorities to relax rules for operation of tourist fibre boat for a certain period of time.
