Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 04: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri Vishnu Pada Ray was reportedly denied an appointment with senior officials of Raj Niwas to discuss critical developmental issues. Despite the MP’s request, no time was allotted for the meeting, leaving him no option but to stage a protest. Braving heavy rain, the MP sat outside the gates of Raj Niwas in protest, refusing to leave the spot throughout the day.

The Member of Parliament, who suffers from diabetes, further alleged that he was not even allowed to use the restroom inside Raj Niwas, forcing him to relieve himself outside. The incident has left the people of Andaman deeply saddened and has raised several questions, with many wondering why an elected representative of the people cannot meet the Lieutenant Governor (LG).

Residents have voiced their concerns, questioning the lack of communication and cooperation between the administration and their elected officials.

In a show of solidarity, a large number of BJP workers and supporters gathered near DC Banglow Junction to support the MP and express their displeasure. The situation intensified as many voiced their anger to the media, stating that the MP should not have been treated in such a disrespectful manner.

Around 6:30 PM, the MP concluded his protest but announced that he would return on October 8th with the public to demand entry. He also vowed to sit in protest again if the situation repeats.

This incident is likely to echo in Parliament, as many believe it highlights a deeper issue of disconnect between the administration and the people. For an elected representative to be denied access to the LG raises serious concerns about democratic processes in the Union Territory.

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 04: The 50th National Women Chess Championship 2024 commenced yesterday at Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, bringing together around 150 talented women chess players from across India. The prestigious tournament, which will witness intense competition among some of the country’s best players, includes two participants from Andaman and Nicobar Islands T. Anitha and V. Shanti Kumari representing the islands with pride.
In a remarkable achievement for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Prem Kumari, HGC, A & N Administration, and a Senior National Arbiter & Fair Play Arbiter has been appointed as the Fair Play Arbiter for the 50th National Women’s Chess Championship, becoming the first woman from the islands to hold this prestigious role. Her appointment marks a proud milestone for the entire chess community of the islands. The Andaman chess community extends its best wishes to SNA Prem Kumari for this honour and her important role in the championship.

Rabindranath Biswas
Beodnabad, Oct 03.: The delay in laying pipelines has worsened the drinking water crisis in Ward No. 02 in Macca Pahad village under Gram Panchayat Beodnabad.
According to information, the residents of Ward No. 02 in Macca Pahad village have been facing an acute drinking water crisis for the last many years. Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Shri Paramasivam, Pradhan Gram Panchayat Beodnabad said that the people in the area reportedly lack access to safe water; they often have no choice but to drink unsafe water and use polluted water for other domestic usage that too is not within easy reach; often the residents especially of this particular Ward have to trek a long way to fetch water from Wells or in other occasions from the nearby nallahs, the Pradhan said. The villagers approached the concerned authorities innumerable times and made them aware of the grim situation owing to non-existence of water pipelines in the area,
and pleaded with them to solve the water crisis but the APWD officials have turned a deaf ear to their pleas, the Pradhan said. The Gram Panchayat also approached the APWD and met different officials from the concerned Junior Engineer to the concerned Executive Engineer with the request to address the issue, but to no avail; the problem of water scarcity has not been resolved till date, the Pradhan informed.
Meanwhile, the Pradhan has recently written a letter to the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, Sri Vijaya Puram and requested him to direct the concerned APWD authorities to provide the necessary water pipe connections to the residents of this village on priority thereby putting an end to the plight of the residents of this region without further delay, the Pradhan further said.

Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Oct 3: In a proud moment for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a record-breaking 2144 kg Laddoo was created on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 by well-known Chef of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Ashwar Pal Singh. This massive creation has earned a place in the prestigious Asia Book of Records, marking the biggest single-piece laddoo ever made in the history.
The achievement was led by Chef Ashwar Pal Singh, who expressed his gratitude and pride at receiving the recognition. “It’s a proud moment for our islands and the country. I feel honored to be a record holder. This wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of my team,” he said.
This isn’t the first time Mr. Ashwar Singh has made headlines for his culinary achievements. Last year, he crafted a 1009 kg laddoo in five days, which earned him a spot in India book of records and International book of records. He earned as many as 19 records for the achievement.

Rabindranath Biswas & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 01: The traffic on the Jirkatang to Middle Strait and vice -versa was severely disrupted owing to major cracks at the lower body/support of RK Nallah Bridge which is 10 km from the Middle Strait Creek today.
According to information, all types of vehicular movement came to a complete stand still after the compliance order from the South Andaman District Administration owing to the major cracks developed at the lower body of the RK Nallah Bridge.
However, it reportedly left about 280 tourist and about 100 tourist vehicle drivers stranded at the Baratang Island. Most importantly, the tourists who had planned their return journey by tomorrow’s flight found themselves in trouble.
The tourist operators and travel agents talked to STS officials if they could transport the stranded tourists along with the STS passengers but the STS officials reportedly showed indifferent attitude towards their plea by simply saying that they had no such orders.
However, the AATO President immediately talked to the Deputy Commissioner South Andaman and apprised him of the plight of the stranded guests and urged him to evacuate them with necessary arrangement. The AATO President also requested the DC to provide STS connecting bus service from Sri Vijaya Puram and from Baratang. Accordingly 5 STS buses from Sri Vijaya Puram and 5 buses from Baratang were pressed for evacuating the stranded tourists. All the tourists were safely evacuated by this STS Bus service and the tourists intending to catch tomorrow’s flight will now be able to make their return journey tomorrow, as per the report last came in.
By evening many other small vehicles also crossed the bridge due to especial arrangements made by the authorities by placing plates on the bridges and allowing one LMV to cross at a time.

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Sept. 30: The Merchant Association, Diglipur has raised the demand for a major Port at a suitable location in Diglipur Sub-Division. They demand a Port at a suitable location in Diglipur Sub-Division with the desired facilities such as 30 tons capacity crane, provision of 100 containers capacity yard, a Forklift(truck), Godown/Warehouse, Weight machine
According to information, there is a prolonged demand from the businessmen of Diglipur that a major Port is built at a suitable location in Diglipur Sub-Division to do away with the problems they have been facing.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, the Merchant Association said they have to proceed to Sri Vijaya Puram from Diglipur a week ahead in connection to unloading their merchandise/goods from the ships at Sri Vijaya Puram port and then transporting them to Diglipur. In the process it takes a week, and at times longer than week and which involves a number of hassles, they lamented.
In fact, the businessmen have to spend a number of days for this purpose while their business is hampered in their absence at their respective business houses, they said.
The Merchant Association, Diglipur further said that Diglipur is a large business area and is only second to Sri Vijaya Puram in terms of commercial activities and it has generated the necessity of a Port to serve the purpose, they said. Jetty at Mayabunder is not equipped with all the facilities required to handle the large quantity of cargo properly, they claimed.
Besides, the cargo ships seldom call at the Jetty at Mayabunder from mainland, they informed. However, the hassles are the same at Jetty at Mayabunder and at the port at Sri Vijaya Puram when it comes to handling their cargo, they decried.
Now, the Merchant Association, Diglipur appeals to the A & N Administration that the administration recognizes their hurdles in handling their cargo in absence of a port in Diglipur region and address them by implementing their demand of a Port at a suitable location in Diglipur Sub-Division with the desired facilities such as: 30 tons capacity crane, provision of 100 containers capacity yard, a Forklift(truck), Godown/Warehouse, Weight machine and other requirements, they said.

Sri Vijaya Puram, September 30: A melodious evening titled “Meri Awaaz Hi Pahechaan Hai #3 (Ishwar Satya Hai…!!!)” was held at Hotel Driftwood, Haddo, on Saturday, September 28th, to pay tribute to the legendary singer and Bharat Ratna, Lata Mangeshkar, on her 95th birth anniversary.
The event, organized by Jhumurr Socio-Cultural Society with LM-fan Club and in collaboration with Hotel Driftwood, was a heartfelt homage to the ‘Nightingale of India’ for her exceptional musical journey spanning 75 years.
Concept & Programme Designing by Ashees Poddar, Creative Director & Convenor of the Society. The evening was a beautiful celebration of Lata Ji’s timeless duets with male co-singers from various generations, showcasing the different moods and genres of her evergreen music.
The event began with a floral tribute and cake-cutting ceremony, in honor of Lata Mangeshkar. Smt. Ananya Karak, one of the top singers from the Islands, opened the evening with a stunning rendition of Lata Ji’s iconic song ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram.’
Beside a number of Golden and melodious duets of Lata Ji of various moods with different male Co-Singers of different generations, a Geetmala (medley) conceived well by Smt. Sonali Podder as the special attraction of show, was also presented beautifully by the female singers with some evergreen songs of Lataji, culminating the programme in a grand manner.
The other lead singers of the show Smti. Parvati Anil, Smti. Arunima Ghosh, Smti. Salma, and Smti. Minaz Nadeem as a guest artiste enchanted the audience by their renditions.
Male singers included Shri K. Mammi (for Mohd.Rafi) as the special guest artiste, Shri. Abdul Rasheed (Mohd.Rafi & Mahendra Kapoor), Shri. Shailender Singh (Amit Kumar, Suresh Wadekar, Udit Narayan & Manmohan Singh) Shri. Aktar Hussain (Kumar Sanu, S.P Balasubramanium, Manna Dey & Jolly Mukherjee), Shri. Raj (Mukesh), Shri. Rajesh Anand (Hemant Kumar), Shri. Mohd. Nisar (Shailendra Singh & Kumar Sanu), Shri. Rajesh Ghosh (Mohd. Aziz & Mohd.Rafi), Shri. Ujjwal Dhali (Abhijeet) and Shri. Ashees Poddar (Kishore Kumar, Hemant Kumar, Bhupender Singh & Shabbir Kumar)
The show, anchored by Shri. Raj and coordinated by Shri. Shailendra Singh & Shri. Aktar Hussain, was lauded as a grand success, drawing participation from eminent guests like Smt. & Shri. K.Mammi, Smt. Zubaida Begum, Smt. Sageeta Chand, Smt. Monidipa Mukherjee, Smt. Jharna Bose, Shri. Sanjib Kumar Roy, Smt. Sumita Sanyal, Smt. Babita Roychowdhury, Shri Khitish Karak, Shri Debesh Roy, Shri. G. Anil Kumar, Shri. Appa Rao & Shri Jay Nair.

The night concluded with thunderous applause, a fitting tribute to Lata Mangeshkar’s enduring legacy in Indian music.