Port Blair, Feb 27: The matter of no navigation buoys at Nancowry Island published by Andaman Sheekha on 25th February 2020 has been accepted by the authorities of Port Management Board and the authorities assured that necessary actions have been taken by the department to fix navigation lights at Nancowry and nearby Islands at the earliest.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha today, Ishwar Singh, Harbor Master, Port Management Board said that there are in total seven navigation buoys in and around Nancowry Island in which currently two are working.
Explaining the reason behind such delay to fix the navigation lights in the un- operational structure, Mr. Iswar said that it was earlier the responsibility of Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works to fix lights in the structure for which they tendered thrice but only one contractor participated in the bid with a very higher quotation of around 38 lakhs for various reasons..
The Harbor Master added that as the ALHW cannot spend more than 25 lakhs for the work, the work was later diverted to us.
“We have already completed all formalities and the file is sent to the administration for tendering and if the tender is called within two weeks, in next three months navigation lights will be fixed in the current five un- operational structures as well as in the 14 newly constructed structures between Katchal and Nancowry,” Harbor Master said.
Currently, only 02 navigational lights are functioning in Nancowry Island which is causing tremendous trouble for the masters of the ship to enter and leave the port. Hopefully, the task by the department gets completed very soon before any accident takes place.
