John Wilbert
Port Blair, Sept 04: Several small boat operators today staged protest at Aberdeen Jetty against the sudden Diktat of Port Management Board (PBM) to operate small boats from Junglighat Jetty instead of Aberdeen Jetty. In an order issued by the PMB the boat owners were asked the vacated the jetty area of Aberdeen for three years for repair and maintenance of Aberdeen Jetty. Small boat owners have also been asked to operate from Junglighat Jetty.
Opposing the move the Small Boat Operators today staged protest and said that they are not against years for repair and maintenance of Aberdeen Jetty but they demand a floating jetty for them.
“There are 162 small boats, which are operated from this place. If we are vacated from here many of us will lose our livelihood as most of us have taken loan from banks,” said a boat operator.
Other boat operators pointed out that operating small boats from Junglighat is not feasible for them as in that case they will have to pay heavy amount for fuel.
