Port Blair, June 19: Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, PCC President together with Mr. D. Jayaraman, Samiti Member, Mr. Navaneethan, Ex. Up-Pramukh , Mr. K.Raja, Pradhan of Campbell Bay, Mr. Masih Lugun Senior Congress leaders met the Director of Shipping service and discussed various burning issues pertaining to Campbell Bay. The PCC President invited the attention of Director of Shipping service towards the problems being faced by the residents of Campbell Bay and nearby villagers due to acute shortage of essential commodities owing to inadequate shipping service.
The PCC President said that the people of Campbell Bay and nearby islands are depending on Port Blair for essential commodities such as vegetables, eggs, fruits , mutton, Chicken etc., and four vessels namely M. V. Chowra, M.V. Sentinel, MV Kalighat and MV Samsun used to ply between Port Blair and Campbell Bay. However, for reasons not known the service of MV Chowra, MV Sentinel, and MF Samsun has been withdrawn by the administration and at present only two ships viz. MV Kalighat and MV Campbell Bay are in service.
The winch of vessel MV Kalighat is not working for the last more than four months and therefore no cargo is being loaded in this vessel. Vessel MV Campbell Bay has the cargo carrying capacity of 40 MT but the vessels takes only 25 MT cargo for Campbell Bay. Mr. Kuldeep further informed the DSS that no Cargo is being brought by any vessel during its last 2-3 voyages and the people are facing untold difficulties.
Mr. Kuldeep further informed the DSS that the residents of Campbell Bay organized a protest demonstration at Campbell Bay and the administration deployed the cargo vessel MV Chuglam for Campbell Bay and the vessel reached Campbell Bay after 23 days and the entire essential commodities loaded in the vessel were severely damaged and the shop keepers sustained heavy loss. He further urged that exclusive trip to Campbell Bay via Nancowry be made at least twice in a month. The PCC President also demanded that during the lean period commencing from July Mainland island passenger ships be deployed in Southern group of island for transportation of passenger and cargo.
Mr. Kuldeep, PCC President urged the Director of Shipping Service that considering the problems being faced by the residents of Campbell Bay in getting essential commodities due to non shipment of such items from Port Blair appropriate action be taken for shipment of vegetables, fruits and other essential commodities to Campbell Bay to alleviate the shortage of commodities at Campbell Bay and also for immediate repair of the winch of MV Kalighat. As regard to loading and unloading of cargo on board MV Kalighat and to that matter for any other ships the PCC president advocated that the cargo handling equipments available with ports be utilized by the Directorate of Shipping services. The Director of Shipping Service , after giving a patient hearing, assured immediate appropriate action to the matter.
