Sarthak Kanjilal

Port Blair, Jan 12: The Fruit Vendors of Port Blair city’s fruit market area, have expressed their anger over the lack of concern shown by Port Blair Municipal Council towards providing them a permanent shed, as per High Court’s order.

Raising voice against the Port Blair Municipal Council the Fruit vendors allege that many years ago the High Court at Port Blair had directed the PBMC to construct permanent shed for the 32 fruit sellers of Port Blair area but even after so many years the PBMC has not initiated any steps in this regard.

“A few years back the sheds of the fruit vendors were removed in name of construction of drain and later a temporary shed has been constructed for us. Since then our repeated requests for a permanent shed are falling in deaf ears,” said a fruit vendor of Port Blair city.    nside Gandhi Market, where we will not be given shop. We have been told that they will move us to new place but we don’t know where we will be moved,” said another fruit vendor.

Allotment process for shops and sheds by PBMC always remain marred with controversy and allegation of corruption.

A shopping complex with nearly 15 shops at Dairy Farm and nearly 14 shops of Food Park near Netaji Stadium are still waiting for final allotment, causing huge loss to PBMC for this delay.

 

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Jan 12: District committee members and PRI members today selected the new District President of BJP’s, North Andaman District unit.
A meeting was convened today at BJP office to select the new District president of BJP District committee.
The Committee selected Mr. K.Srinivasan as the new District president. He is the former Adhyaksh Zilla Parishad, North Andaman but in recent Panchayat Election, J.Boby of INC defeated him.

Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Jan 12: It has been learnt that the sailing of MV Nancowry was cancelled because the Mercantile Marine Department officials at Chennai did not give permission to the passenger ship which was found to be plying with two faulty generators.
As per reports published in national media after the MMD’s intervention all the 700 passengers were told to disembark. It has been learnt that some irked passengers gheroed the Andaman administration office near the Shipping corporation of India office demanding board and lodge facility.
Following the intervention of the Harbour police, the protestors left peacefully. The sudden cancellation has put the Andaman administration in a fix as there is no provision for making hotel arrangements as is the case with air passengers.
Andaman Sheekha in recent past had highlighted about poor maintenance of Mainland as well as Inter-Island ships but it seems that the Administration is waiting for another major disaster at sea to take any steps in this regard. This must be investigated now that how the ship with two faulty generators was allowed to sail from Port Blair to Chennai. (with input from ENS)

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, January 11: The vessel MV Nancowry, which was about to sail for Port Blair today at around 04:00 pm from Chennai was cancelled due to some problem in the generator of the ship, it is learnt.
But this last moment cancellation left a large number of passengers in soup. As per sources, many passengers have also protested at the entrance gate of the Chennai Port.
As per sources, three days back one of the generators of the ship busted and the repair works for the same was on but even though sources informed that the ship was made ready to sail for Port Blair.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha over phone, one of the passengers said that he had already left the lodge and he is not having enough money to stay in Chennai for few more days. He said that now it has become very difficult for him to stay in Chennai till a new schedule is announced.
Another passenger said that he has come all the way from Madurai to avail this sailing. “If the authorities would have informed me earlier I would have stayed back at Madurai, now don’t know where will I go,” said the passenger over phone.
Andaman Sheekha also learnt that a few passengers who were provided the lodging and boarding facilities by the administration due to the cancellation of the Chartered Flight recently, had also bought the ship ticket of MV Nancowry but cancellation of this sailing caused another problem to them.
As per sources, the passengers have been told that the ship will be fit for sailing only after three days.
The Shipping Department must make sure that in case of doubt proper announcement/ publicity should be done so that passengers can make alternative arrangements. The Department should also sent officers at the port to manage the situations like this and arrange boarding facilities for stranded passengers, in case of last moment cancellation of ship. The Shipping services must develop some kind of SMS alert system for all ship passengers so that any kind of issues regarding fitness of the ship can be intimated to passengers on time.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, January 11: Master Rohit Kumar a class 11th student of School Line School and a resident of Ranchi Basti, suffered severe injuries in his eyes on 7th January while playing drum during school prayers.
As per reports, Master Rohit Kumar a student of Arts Stream, School Line School used to play the drum regularly in the school during the prayer but unfortunately on 7th January while playing the drum the drum stick slipped from his hand and hit his eye.
According to sources, the eye suffered serious damages. The boy was immediately rushed to the Govind Ballabh Pant hospital by the school authorities, it is learnt.
Andaman Sheekha also learnt that the condition of the eye of Master Rohit Kumar is very critical and is now hospitalized in the G B Pant Hospital.

Port Blair, Jan 11: Shri Prakash Javadekar, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Environment Forest and Climate Change is scheduled to arrive at Port Blair on 16th January, 2016 on a three-day visit to the Islands.
The itinerary of the Minister during his stay here includes meeting with the Lt Governor, A&N Islands at Raj Niwas on 18th January, 2016.
The Minister will hold meetings with the Member of Parliament, BJP leaders, Chamber of Commerce and also with Chief Secretary and PCCF on 16th January, 2016.
The Minister will be visiting places of historical importance and tourist interest, which includes visit to the National Memorial Cellular Jail and laying of wreath at Martyrs Column, Havelock Island, Biosphere reserve and meeting with concerned administrative officers at Campbell Bay, Ross Island, Diglipur, Ross & Smith Island and ANTRI.
The Minister will be addressing a press conference in the conference hall of Megapode Resort on 19th January, 2016 at 1000 hours before leaving for mainland.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Jan 08: In a major respite for the residents of Havelock and Campbell Bay, a long pending demand for Petrol Pump facility in the islands is all set to be realized in the first quarter of the next financial year.
Sharing the development, the General Manager, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation, Mr Dharmendra Kumar said that the civil works for the Petrol Pump at Havelock has been completed, while the works relating to storage capacity and installation of dispending Units will be awarded to Indian Oil Corporation soon.
“A petrol pump in the Havelock island will decrease the cost of Petrol which will indirectly benefit tourists in the island, Mr Dharmendra added.
On the proposal for setting up at Petrol Pump at Campbell Bay, the ANIIDCO GM said that due to some local concerns, the ANIIDCO failed to make any progress in the proposal. But efforts have been revived and file proceedings for creation of storage capacity and installation of dispending units for the Petrol Pump at Campbell Bay through Indian Oil Corporation in under progress. The Campbell Bay project may take some more time to complete as official procedures have been initiated only in the first quarter of the current financial year, added Mr Dharmendra Kumar.

 

Port Blair, Jan 8: The much awaited annual event of the Isles, Island Tourism Festival – 2016, got off to a colourful start at a glittering ceremony at ITF Ground, VIP Road here this evening.

The Lt. Governor, Lt. Gen A.K. Singh (Retd.), chief guest of the function, lit the ceremonial lamp to mark the commencement of the eleven-day long fete. The Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, the guest of honour of the function, Smt. Rupa Ray, Chief Secretary i/c, Shri Raajiv Yaduvanshi, PBMC Chairperson, Smt. Sheela Singh, Adhyaksha, ZPSA, Smt. Minati Biswas, Senior Officers of the Administration, tourism stakeholders and a large number of people attended this programme.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Lt Governor stated that from the earlier ‘Kala Paani’, these Islands are today known for its mesmerizing blue waters and the slogan ‘Emerald, Blue and You’ is indeed befitting. The Lt Governor, however, urged all citizens to co-operate with the civic authorities in maintaining cleanliness in the Isles under the ‘Swatch Bharat Abhiyan’, launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi.

The Lt Governor stated that about 1000 local artistes are participating in this festival. Their selection has been done in a very transparent manner, he said.

“The Island Tourism Festival aims at showcasing ‘Vibrant Andaman’”, said the Lt Governor, inviting one and all to join the revelries during the fete.

The Lt Governor also mentioned that the Administration is chalking out an event calendar for the entire year so that everyone can participate in, and enjoy these events throughout the year. The Lt Governor stated that Kala Kendra that has been established in the Islands require dynamism and momentum. He urged the concerned authorities to include the PBMC Chairperson so that she can also suggest activities under this.

The Lt Governor also spoke about the MoU that has been signed between the A&N Administration and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations under which artistes from abroad shall be invited to perform in the Islands.

The Lt Governor concluded his speech by expressing hope that the A&N Islands will prosper like never before in the year ahead through the joint and collective efforts of all.

In his brief address, the Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray welcomed the artistes from mainland who have come here to perform and also those from the islands, to enjoy the festivities in the islands for the next 11 days.

Earlier, welcoming the gathering, the Secretary Tourism Smt. Ankita Mishra Bundela stated that the Islands Tourism festival has become an intrinsic part of these Islands. She also informed about the journey of the ITF that began in 1987 as ‘Apna Utsav’, which went on to be known as ‘Islands on the March’ later on. However, in the year 1994, a comprehensive Island Tourism Festival was organized for the first time which continues till date. She also informed that besides Port Blair, South Andaman, North and Middle Andaman and Car Nicobar, programmes under the ITF will also be organized, for the very first time, in the Nancowry group of Islands this time.
The highlight of the inaugural function was the enchanting Bharatnatyam performance by the classical dancer from Puducherry, Ms Kritika, a bouquet of colourful cultural presentations by the visiting artistes from different states of the country and a hilarious comic presentation by the Police Entertainment Team.
The Island Tourism Festival is being organized under the aegis of Tourism Department of the A&N Administration. The Director Tourism, Dr. P Viswakannan proposed the vote of thanks at the end of the inaugural ceremony.