Port Blair, March 23: The Lt Governor, Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd), today visited Rangat and Mayabunder. A large gathering of people, who had assembled at the market square at Rangat were overwhelmed to see the Lt Governor get down from his car and interact with them. Some of them stated that it is for the first time that any Lt Governor of the Islands had got down in the market place to meet the common people. Similarly, people were overwhelmed when the Lt Governor got down at the market at Mayabunder to meet and interact with the people.
At Rangat, the Lt Governor held a meeting with the members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions at the Zilla Parishad Auditorium, wherein he reviewed the progress of various schemes implemented for the welfare of the people. Adhyaksh, ZP (N&M Andaman), Shri K Srinivasan, Deputy Commissioner (N&M Andaman), Shri Krishna Mohan Uppu, Secretary (RD), Secretary to LG, PRI members and officers of the Administration were present. PRI members drew the attention of the Lt Governor to some of the key issues and problems faced by the people. The Lt Governor directed the concerned Departments to immediately act upon them. In his address, he mentioned that consequent to the decisions taken in the PRI Conference, the Administration has recently notified the devolution of functions, funds and functionaries to the PRIs. He urged the PRIs to now work towards meeting the aspirations of the people. Further, he directed the Deputy Commissioner to monitor the implementation of his directions. After, the meeting, he directed the Secretary (RD) and Deputy Commissioner to jointly carry out their inspection and redress the grievance of the people. He also witnessed a cultural programme presented by the schoolchildren and stated that he was impressed by the immense talent of the children of Rangat. He announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the promotion of art & culture in Rangat which will be coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner (N&M Andaman). He also assured that children and other artists from N&M Andaman would get an opportunity to perform at a cultural programme to be organized by the Department of Art & Culture at Port Blair in the last week of April 2015.
Thereafter, the Lt Governor visited Mayabunder and held a meeting with representatives of the Karen Community at APWD Guest House. A large delegation of community leaders led by the Pradhan, Webi and the Pastor greeted the Lt Governor in their traditional way and stated that it was an emotional moment for them as it is for the first time that any Lt Governor came to meet them. Various issues pertaining to the Karen Community were raised by them in the meeting. The Lt Governor heard them patiently and assured that whatever is possible will be done for the welfare and well being of the Karen Community. He also assured the Karen delegation that they were as much a part of the Islands as any other group/community in the Islands.
During his interaction with the local people in the Mayabunder market, he urged the people and the PRI representatives that cleanliness must be maintained. He mentioned that Mayabunder is a beautiful place but the beauty will be lost if cleanliness of the area is not maintained in a proper manner. Local PRIs members mentioned about the shortage of fund in respect of sanitation work. On this, the Lt Governor directed the Finance Secretary/Secretary (RD) to place additional funds for this purpose. To begin with, an amount of Rs 2 lakh for sanitary schemes for Mayabunder would be allotted. PRI members also drew the attention of the Lt Governor on the acute shortage of drinking water. In this regard, the Lt Governor directed the Engineers of APWD to immediately prepare plans to draw water from alternative sources and submit the same for his consideration. Separately, he ordered that a proposal to set up a desalination plant at Mayabunder be taken up on a pilot basis. CE, APWD will submit a proposal in this regard on priority.
