Scribes fight to preserve sanctity of HistoricIsland
Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Mar 14: A few Journalists of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are presently protesting against the move of the Administration to construct a 50 berth Yacht Marina at Historic Viper Island.
Journalists, hailing from Subhash Chandra Press Club, have been protesting since March 5, 2012 infront of the secretariat building of A & N Administration.
The scribes are demanding immediate withdrawal of proposal as they believe that such project will ruin the sanctity of the Island, which had witnessed untold sufferings of freedom fighters, who were brought to Andamans from all over India during British era.
“From 1858 to 1906, till the Cellular Jail was constructed, our freedom fighters and panel settlers were kept at Viper Island, Initially in an open jail. Viper Island is a national heritage and members of Subhash Chandra Press Club demands to withdraw such evil design tourism project,” Mr. Shyam Singh Yadav, the General Secretary of Subhash Chandra Press Club told ‘Andaman Sheekha’ today.
The Viper Island is located very close to Port Blair city and is presently a prominent tourist destination as it still has jail rooms and the infamous gallows, where many freedom fighters were hanged.
The journalists of SC Press Club have also written series of letters to the President and Prime Minister of India demanding withdrawal of the proposal and declaration of Viper Island as a part of National Memorial Cellular Jail.
Not only this, the journalists fear the 50 berth marina as a security threat for entire nation.
“The approach Viper Island by sea is only through the Naval Jetty, having Floating Dry Dock of Navy (FDN-II), which is a protected and prohibited harbour. Movement of foreign Yachts and boats will definitely pose threat to the security of our nation,” Singh added.
However, when contacted no one in Andaman’s Tourism Department was available for comments.
