Sarthak Kanjilal & Rohan Lal
Port Blair, Feb 03: A large number of People of Guptapara area have expressed their resentment over the cancellation of Tender of a road at Guptapara by Zilla Parishad from HR Roy House to Shyam Singh House via Forest Camp.
As per the residents, the area never had a road and following public demand a tender was floated on June 30, 2016 for the work of the aforesaid road. The tender process brought hope for the remote villagers but to their utter dismay now they have been told that the said tender process has been cancelled for unknown reasons.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, a resident of the area said that on the year 2004 the administration started the work but didn’t complete the project, bringing more trouble for them.
“We are in a huge trouble as no public vehicle enter our area, aged people and pregnant ladies have to walk up to the main road,” said a resident.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, the Zilla Parishad Member of the area Mrs Minati Biswas, who is very disappointed over the cancellation of the project, said that she smells a rat in this entire issue. “Corruption could be a reason behind cancellation of this tender process,” she added.
According to her when she asked authorities about cancellation of the tender, it was communicated to her that this has been done for lack of fund.
“There is a total foul play, I was also the Adhyaksha SAZP and I know that a tender cannot be floated if there is no fund,” said Mrs Minati Biswas.
However, the villagers have now appealed the administration to interfere in the matter and come to their rescue.

Navin Kumar
Port Blair, Feb 03: The Snake Squad of Forest Department under the leadership of Deputy Ranger, Mr Manjit Singh also known as Snake Man of Andaman and Nicobar Islands released three King Cobra Snakes and one Rat Snake at Madhuban Jungle this afternoon.
As per reports, Snake Man Manjit Singh and his team rescued all the four Snakes from different parts of the city and today all snakes were safely released in a safe location.
All the three King Cobra Snakes were nearly three meters long and around 4 kilogram in weight and the Rat Snake was around 1.5 meter long weighing around 2 kilograms.

DJ Venkatesh
Betapur, Feb 02: Half-hearted move of authorities of Betapur Saw mill to go cashless has left people of North and Middle Andaman in deep trouble.
While Government of India is encouraging cashless transaction and have given dozens of options to public for payment at Betapur Saw Mill authorities believe that only Demand Drafts are best way to go cashless.
The Betapur mill is the sole distributer of Sawn timber for various purposes for whole N & M Andaman. The people from remote places like Diglipur need to visit the Betapur saw mill for sawn timber which is about 120 KM away.
After selecting timber as per requirement the one needs to go to Banks of Mayabunder or Rangat to make a Demand Draft which is more than 23 Km.
After reaching the person have to spend 2-3 hours more to make two Bank Drafts one for Sawn timber charge and another for sale tax.
The mill is not accepting cash. If anyone submits Cheque he has to visit again the mill after 3 days after encashment of the Cheque by the mill.
The duration further increases if any holiday falls in between, which further delays the process.
The mill is enforcing for the cashless transaction for sawn timber while on the other hand cash is accepted for saw dust which is quite strange and highest level of double standard, many believes.
The Saw Mill started functioning in 1956 and even today it appears as if the Saw Mill is still in Pre-Independence age. The process of indent filing, billing & documentation has been done computerized resulting in quick disposal & transparency but why POS machines are not yet installed is a big question.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Feb 02: Heavy Traffic Jam was seen today at around 04:45pm at Hawaghar Chowk following a brawl between a lady passenger and an Auto Rickshaw Driver.
According to reports, the aged Auto Rickshaw Driver picked up two ladies from Marina Park area to drop them at Nayagaon. But soon one of the lady passenger and Auto Driver involved in some kind of arguments over the correct place of drop, which later took shape of a brawl. The lady passenger reportedly attacked the auto-driver with sandal. Public present at the spot however came to the rescue of nearly 50 year old auto driver and informed the Police about this incident.
On information a team of Aberdeen Police Unit immediately reached the spot to picked up both Auto Rickshaw Driver as well as the lady. It is learnt that a group of other Auto Rickshaw Drivers gathered and protested against the violent behaviour of the lady.
The matter however ended with a compromised between both the parties.

Port Blair, Feb 02: A massive Dharna in front of the Electricity Department , A&N Administration , was conducted this morning by the Pradesh Congress Committee lead by Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, President PCC in protest of the deteriorating power scenario in A&N Islands leading to excessive , unpredicted and unprecedented power cut in various Island including Port Blair and its adjoining areas. The dharna was also attended by leaders and supporters from Mahila Congress, Youth Congress, Seva Dal and more importantly large number of local residents of South Andaman anguished and aggrieved with the erratic and long power cuts.
Inviting the attention of Lieutenant Governor , Shri Sharma condemned and raised serious objection over the inaction of the administration and the electricity department in resolving the power crisis scenario in the Islands. He said , owing to inefficiency of higher-ups in taking decision , the Islanders are subjected to long and erratic power cuts as most of the Diesel Generators departmentally installed or hired from the independent power producers for delivering electric power are either non functional or are operating at lower capacity .
Referring to the power crisis scenario of South Andaman, Shri Sharma said that the peak power requirement of South Andaman is around 38 MW, whereas the collective power generating capacity of the existing Diesel Generating sets is over 60 MW. The increasing number of non operational and underperforming departmentally owned Diesel Generators and unproductive implementation of contracts executed with the three independent power producers namely Suryachakra Power Corporation Ltd., M/s Sudhir Ready Genset Consortium and M/s New Bharat Engineering Works has given birth to the present power crisis. Referring to the statistics Shri Sharma said the three independent power producers are collectively responsible for providing 35MW power but in lieu are providing only 13.5 MW and this huge deficiency in supply has created the power crisis. The Electricity department and the administration need to take stringent action on these erring independent power producers in accordance with the provisions of the contract agreement and should immediately revive the ever deteriorating the power scenario in South Andaman. He further emphasized that if appropriate action is not taken immediately the crisis is going to worsen with many more DG Sets becoming nonoperational and the agreement with Suryachakra Power Corporation Ltd. coming to end during April 2018 .Referring to the plan of Electricity Department to have 100 percent green energy and to do away with the Diesel Generating Sets, Shri Sharma said that, the initiative is worth appreciating and his party also supports establishment 100 percent pollutant free green energy by means of installation of solar power plants at different locations in the Islands and replacement of Diesel operated Generators with LNG operated power plants, but till such time these proposals turns into reality and starts delivering power we cannot neglect the existing system of generating power troubling the citizens. The transition from one system of power generation to another system need to smooth and gradual with systematic phasing out of Diesel Generating Sets, so that the Islanders are not subjected long and erratic power cuts.
The other leaders speaking on the occasion also described the indiscriminate power cuts as most unfortunate for students, with final examination fast approaching during the month of March. The shops, workshops, small industries, restaurants, hotels etc. all are getting adversely affected by the poor power supply scenario. As presence of electricity is indicative of development and prosperity of a society, such long spell of power cuts in various part of the Port Blair town renders darkening of roads, streets , parks and other places of public utility casting negative impact on tourism and on tourist visiting these Islands.
The Dharna though aggressively conducted ended peacefully demanding early restoration of round the clock power supply.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Jan 31: A father of Catholic Church died in an accident this morning at 05:00pm.
As per reports, Father Evans Maxim F Soares left from Dairyfarm to Phoneix Bay Jetty to drop some youths of Little Andaman.
Sources said that at the main gate of Prerna Dweep, the father came out of the Car to open the gate but the father reportedly forgot to pull the hand brake of the Car following which the Car rolled down speedily hitting the father hard.
On information a team of Police immediately rushed the father to the nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
It is learnt that due to the unfortunate demise of the father, Carmel School as well as Nirmala Senior Secondary School declared a holiday this afternoon.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Jan 31: The Tylerabad Police Unit has seized a bucket of Rice Beer this morning from Birchgunj area. As per reports, the illegal business was run by a mother and son at an Agriculture Land, which they were taking care off.
It is learnt that, when the landlord found that the take carers of his land are indulged in such illegal activities, he immediately informed the Tylerabad Police Unit following which the Police team rushed the spot and arrested both the mother and son and also seized the Rice Beer.
It is learnt that both mother and son were later released on bail. Further details are awaited.

Ganesh
Baratang, Jan 30: A Musth Elephant has reportedly killed a Mazdoor of Forest Department namely Guran Kujur S/o Haitha Kujur aged 45 years this morning at 09:30am at Sukha Khari, South Creek, Baratang.
As per reports, just after tying the Musth Elephant “Nirash” when Guran Kujur turned to return the Musth Elephant attacked Guran Kujur with his trunk. Sources said Guran Kujur was declared dead at the Primary Health Center, Baratang.
It is learnt that a team of Forest Department under the leadership of Dr Shyam Varghese is moving to Baratang tomorrow morning, to inspect the Musth Elephant.