Port Blair, June 06: CPI (M) Andaman & Nicobar State Organizing Committee has demanded that fixed and regular sailing of vessels to Car Nicobar may be arranged for the benefit of tribal people and government servants working there. In a letter sent to the Chief Secretary, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, D. Ayyappan, State Secretary, CPI (M) A & N Islands drew the attention of the Administration to the difficulties being experienced by the people of Car Nicobar due to non-availability of regular sailings of ships to Car Nicobar. He said that it has been brought to the notice of CPI (M) that only one old ship MV Bharat Seema is deployed in the Port Blair-Car Nicobar sector. This ship is also often scheduled for Little Andaman and Nancowry even when there is a huge rush of passengers for Car Nicobar.
He pointed out that the Administration has three new vessels MV Campbell Bay, MV Nalanda and MV Sindhu, but none of these ships is put in service to Car Nicobar on the plea of lack of tugboat at Car Nicobar and unsuitable jetty. He said that Tribal people of Car Nicobar are being denied the facility of new vessels due to lack of planning on the part of the central government and Administration.
The population of Car Nicobar Island is nearly 20,000 besides the government employees and Defence personnel posted there. There is frequent movement of tribal people, government officials, Tribal Council Leaders, tribal businessmen and others to and from Car Nicobar being the District Headquarter of Nicobars District. However, the ship facilities to Car Nicobar are inadequate.
Ayyappan told the Chief Secretary that CPI (M) has been informed by the tribal people that there is no fixed schedule of sailing to Car Nicobar despite the fact that the tribal people and government officials posted at Cat Nicobar are continuously demanding for more sailings to Car Nicobar.
CPI (M) Secretary further brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary that Tribal people are of the opinion that MV Sentinel/MV Chowra type ships are suitable for Car Nicobar considering the logistic problems at Car Nicobar jetty and said that a separate proposal in this regard is being sent submitted by CPI (M).
Ayyappan further requested the Chief Secretary to schedule at least one sailing in a fortnight of any of the new vessels to Car Nicobar by making arrangements for Tug boat, etc so that the people of Car Nicobar can also avail the benefits and facilities of newly acquired vessels like other islanders in the Nicobars District.
