Ganesh Sarkar & Rakesh Sarkar
Port Blair, June 29: As pilferage of oil from crucial departments like Electricity and Transport have become a common phenomenon in these islands, rampant stealing of diesel from STS buses and depots in Power Houses by lower-level employees has emerged as a major reason for shortage of fuel in the government agencies.
While the Lt. Governor in recent past during a programme had expressed concern over high consumption of fuel in these islands, rampant pilferage of HSD oil particularly from STS buses continues unabated in different parts of these islands.
Andaman Sheeka has clinching evidence about how STS Bus Drivers and Conductors connive to steal and vend diesel from government buses.
A team of Andaman Sheekha & Channel One News Little Andaman unit recently found how fuel is openly being stolen from STS buses after local residents complained about the same.
While ascertaining the veracity of the complaints, the Andaman Sheekha & Channel One News team found a Driver of the STS Department openly allowing some people to open the fuel tank and bring out fuel, after the bus is parked in a lonely area of V K Pur.
The person who was taking out fuel from STS bus initially tried to evade the cameras and after failed attempts attacked and threatened the media team of dire consequences if the issue was reported in the local and national media.
Similar threat was issued earlier to a resident of Little Andaman, when he had earlier recorded the video in his mobile phone.
Pilferage of oil from STS buses has assumed alarming proportions, many believe. Drivers and Conductors of STS buses openly draw oil from the bus tanker and vend them to private retailers in their bid to generate more income.
“The top brass of the administration should take stern steps against government employees who resort to unethical means and cause losses to the government treasury,” said some residents of Hut Bay.
When contacted, a senior official of the Transport Department at Port Blair refused to comment on the issue.
However, when contacted a senior officer of STS Department at Little Andaman, who does not want his name to be quoted said, “Such things happens. People who have personal enmity often put such blames on us.” At that time he was unaware that every statement was recorded by Andaman Sheekha team in hidden Camera.
Later the senior officer also warned the media team that if this matter is carried in media unit and any pressure comes on them, there will be serious disruption in bus service of Little Andaman.
Andaman Sheekha is fully confident that in this case of open smuggling and open threatening to media, Administration won’t take any step. The smugglers will get political immunity and cover. Perhaps things will continue the way, it was always. Atleast this will serve as eye opener for Administration, which is only good in issuing rejoinders in Government run Newspaper and serving legal notice to media houses.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, April 13: A local group has launched an offensive against the Directorate of Agriculture accusing the department of financial impropriety causing losses to the government coffers in award of contract for collection of coconut from various farms and plantations of the department. In a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption, a local political leader has alleged that Dr GS Pandey in desperate bid to favour a particular party awarded the contract to an ineligible firm which caused financial losses to the government estimated to be more than Rs 10 lakh.
In the complaint, the local leader said that the Directorate of Agriculture invited bids for collection of coconut from different farms/ plantations of Department of Agriculture, which was opened in the month of July last year in the presence of Joint Director (Agri) Head Quarter, Assistant Director (Agri) Head Quarter, Assistant Director (Admn), Senior Veterinary Officer of Department of AH&VS and Accounts Officer (Agri) and the representatives the participating bidders.
Of the total eighteen firms that participated, seven were disqualified for various reasons. One of the bidder, M/s G. Kathiresan Traders, was disqualified even after offering the highest rate for Lalaji Bay, Mark Bay, Chitrakul, Shantipur, Pokadera, Neil Island and Havelock Island after the financial bids were opened.
Rate acceptance letters were issued to four firms and the offer of M/s G Kathiresan Traders which offered the highest price for per piece of coconut was excluded from the comparative statement prepared by the department. The comparative statement on the basis of which rate acceptance letters issued was later not concurred it is learnt.
“The Accounts Officer of the Agriculture Department had recommended re-tender for the award of contract to the eligible firms. The recommendation was initially approved by the Director. Later, acting on the advice of some subordinate officers of the department, the Director of Agriculture approved the rates and issued fair acceptance orders. Such move tantamount to corruption in the entire tender process. The most competitive rate offer was made by M/s G Kathiresan Traders, highest among all and if accepted, it could have earned financial profits for the department. Instead, the bid was summarily rejected and even not included in the comparative statement. The rejection has caused a loss of about Rs 10 lakh to the government,” said the complainant requesting for a thorough probe in the process.