Sarthak Kanjilal
Neil Island, Mar 27: Neil, one of the tiniest Inhabited Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Chain, always has big problems. At present residents of Neil Island are struggling with bad roads. Residents of Neil Island allege that top layer of roads in several stretches have gone missing and roads in many areas have not been repaired since many years.
“They filled potholes with loose earth, which have been washed away by rain. Monsoon is arriving and we fear that movement in this tiny Island will become totally impossible. We cultivate vegetables, which we need to bring to the Neil Bazaar for sale and these bad roads make our work more difficult. Zilla Parishad and Panchayat have one standard excuse i.e LACK OF FUNDS,” said an angry farmer of Neil Island.
According to reports, roads in No. 4 and No. 1 villages are in horrible shape, causing bagful of trouble for villagers.
Neil Island is not the only Island in South Andaman where bad roads are making life difficult for Islanders.
When contacted the Chairman of South Andaman Zilla Parishad, Mr. SS Balakrishnan Nair said that Zilla Parishad had constructed all rural roads but because there were no funds Zilla Parishad could not carry out repair and maintenance works.
“Now 30 percent of the fund allocated in road sector will be used for the maintenance of roads,” he said.
According to Nair, last year in road sector South Andaman Zilla Parishad had got only Rs. 3.53 crores.
“As per norms a road requires atleast two repairs in five years after construction of the road. Earlier we had no fund in non-plan but now recently APWD has released Rs. 1 Crore as maintenance grain-in-aid. With this fund we will repair all roads of Hutbay and South Andaman region.
Nair added that non availability of funds has also hit the road repair works. “Non-availability is not the only reason; severe shortage of construction materials is another major hindrance. Rates of materials are very high for which the contractors are asking for a revised estimate,” Nair added.
