D J Venkatesh
Diglipur, Sept 16: Neglected people of Diglipur Islands has now raised their voice through DARTED, a registered body, and called for Diglipur Bandh on 25th September 2012, to protest against poor connectivity of Shipping Services.
As the Union Shipping Minister is in Port Blair, a perfectly timed Press Release of DARTED today said that their long pending demands about daily boat service to Diglipur, boat for Diglipur Via Havelock twice a week, Disembarkation of Kolkata passengers at Diglipur, have fallen into deaf ears till now. These demands were raised several occasions in past through PRI members of North Andaman region.
One of these letters was send on 24th Sep, 2011 and was repeatedly followed up but as there was no reply people and public representatives of Diglipur region are now fuming.
“The administration should understand that the passenger population from the last seven -eight years has increased nearly ten folds. But the ship schedule did not change accordingly. There are still three boats a week which has to be shared with Mayabunder passengers also. The team of DARTED*(Diglipur Association of Rural Tourism and Ecological Development) met with the Director of DSS six months back regarding this matter and urged night sailing but there were again no response,” a release from DARTED said here today.
According to reports the Bandh Called by DARTED will be supported by PRI members, business community of Diglipur Island and general public.
