New Delhi/ Port Blair, Dec 22: As a new year beckons, the government plans to weed out several archaic rules, some of which are over 100 years old, relating to shipping sector and also harness inland waterways, lighthouses and islands as new growth drivers of the Indian economy.

Terming the revamp of shipping sector as a high-priority agenda for 2016, Union Minister for Shipping Nitin Gadkari said the new ship building policy will also give a major boost to the government’s “Make In India” initiative while the country’s vast coastline will see major development projects.

Also on the Minister’s radar is the development of India’s lighthouses and islands.
Enthused by a higher tourist footfall at historic lighthouses of Mahabalipuram and Cannanore, an ambitious plan has been drawn to unlock their rich history and heritage.
India has 189 lighthouses dotting its 7,517-km vast coast line, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea.

The identified lighthouses are in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar.
Steeped in rich maritime heritage, each lighthouse has its own story to tell and has tremendous tourism potential to be tapped.

Land adjacent to these lighthouses may have hotels, resorts, viewing galleries, maritime museums and heritage museums, adventure sports facilities, thematic restaurants, souvenir shops, LASER shows, spa and rejuvenation centres, amphitheatres and allied tourism facilities to attract tourists, the Minister said.

Globally, lighthouses tend to attract tourists with their scenic and serene surroundings and rich maritime heritage.

Another important focus area in the new year would be the Sagarmala Project, which is aimed at port-led development in coastal areas, Gadkari said, while adding the project will give a major boost to the Indian economy.
The government has lined up about Rs 70,000 crore for its 12 major ports only, he said.
India has 12 major ports — Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore, V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) — that handle approximately 61 per cent of the country’s total cargo traffic. (Courtesy: PTI)

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Dec 22: While the staffs of DC office South Andaman, are still struggling to fix all the burned and damaged files of Saturday Fire accident, another minor incident of fire accident triggered panic among some staffs for a while this morning.
According to reports at around 9.00 am some staffs of DC office witnessed smoke coming out from the TP Section.
It is learnt that dense smoke case out because of sparking in the age-old electric wirings inside the TP Section. Sources said that some staffs showed presence of mind and switched off the main switch, which prevented any major fire.
As the matter was controlled internally the matter was not reported to Fire Brigade. However, two incidents of sparking, fire and smoke have raised questions over the fire safety norms of DC office, which houses most crucial records of entire city.

Sarthak Kanjilal

Port Blair, December 20: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Mr Shahshi Kant Sharma during his fifth visit to these picturesque islands, found sea changes in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Sharing his experience with a group of journalists at Raj Niwas on Sunday, Mr. Sharma said that the governance has improved a lot in these islands, system and machineries are geared up, which is good for the growth and prosperity of this region.

Mr Shahshi Kant Sharma visited Andaman last time in 2012 and 2013 and this time witnessing major changes in Andaman he said that these islands are outstanding and fascinating and represents whole spirit and contents of India, the diversity, people of these Islands fascinate him apart from natural beauty and tremendous attractions.

He added that the major change he noticed from the beginning is cleanliness. “Roads, which are now giving a different look, constructions at Havelock, discipline in various sectors road signage, traffic etc. are positive sign,” he added.

Answering to a media questions about the changes he want to see in future, Mr Shahshi said that it should be ensured that whatever developmental project we take up in the future let it be commercial, economical, tourism, that should not harm the ecology, flora, fauna and life of the people.

Further Mr Shahshi added that Medical College, Medical Insurance are very good initiatives for the welfare of the people.

“People must come forward with non polluting industries. Stride in the direction to improve communication is a must, encouraging entrepreneurship, advanced ferries for secure and faster movement are some areas that can be focussed on,” Mr Shahshi said.

He further said, he has the feeling that the whole machinery of A&N Administration is now geared up to take up bigger challenges for growth and prosperity of the Islands.

Sharing her views, wife of Mr Shahshi Kant Sharma, Mrs Sandhya Sharma, National Commentator/ex News Reader at Doordarshan said that there is sea change in the islands especially in Port Blair and Havelock. She said that there is a lot of improvement.

Mr. Shashi Kant Sharma, the 12th Comptroller & Auditor General of India was on a visit to the Islands last week. He belongs to the 1976 batch of IAS (Bihar Cadre) and has wide experience in the field of public administration, financial services and infrastructure development.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Dec 21: Facing shortage of First Class Masters, the Directorate of Shipping Services is planning to consider the examination conducted in other states for the crucial post, for promotion of Second Class Masters on the pattern adopted by other States of the country.
The move comes in the wake of the abrupt discontinuation of the conduct of the examination by the Mercantile Marine Department, Kolkata for the last few years, according to information.
The Shipping Department of the UT Administration is facing acute shortage of First Class Masters after the MMD Kolkata discontinued the examinations without furnishing any reasons forcing the DSS to appoint retire First Class Master for different vessels. However, the practice had created resentment among several Second Class Masters as they are deprived of promotions to First Class Masters.
As per the norms of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, second class masters who clear the examination from MMD, Kolkata are only eligible to get promoted to First Class Master. But in view of the current circumstances, the administration has propagated a draft IV rule for which the final rule is likely to be notified soon.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, the Deputy Director, DSS, Mr R Veeraiah informed that in the draft IV rule the department has recommended the administration to consider the examination conducted in other states. The recommendation is presently being examined by the administration. Once the administration approves the IV rule and notifies it, the shortage of First Class Masters in the Shipping Department will be overcome,” said Mr Veeraiah.

 

Senthil Kumar
Rangat, Dec 20: Dismal condition of government quarters at Kaushalya Nagar is compelling teachers to move for rented accommodations in Middle Andaman region. Of the total 17 quarters, only five are occupied by teachers currently and the huge non-occupancy rate over the past several years is said to be prime reason for the deterioration of the government quarters, according to sources.
According to reports, the Education Department constructed first-rate accommodations for about Rs 50-60 lakh for the benefit of teachers posted at Kaushalya Nagar. As per rules, teachers are required to avail the accommodation facility near the school of posting. But over the years, teachers of Kaushalya Nagar School have been opting for rented accommodations at Bakultala or Rangat area due to pathetic condition of the quarter and prolonged non-occupation has left the quarters in poor shape.
But officials of education department have other logic when asked about the dilapidated condition of these quarters by Sheekha correspondent. “The government quarters were in excellent condition until some years ago. But as teachers moved to rented accommodations at Rangat or Bakultala, the condition of the deserted quarters at Kaushalya Nagar have started deteriorating. Walls have developed cracks and other amenities inside the quarters are in a dilapidated state. It’s only the teachers only to the blamed for the poor condition of the quarters,” said some officials of Rangat Educational Zone.
“The Education Department should immediately take measures for repairs of the dilapidated quarters of Kaushalya Nagar. Once the refurbishment is complete, teachers posted in Kaushalya Nagar School should be allotted these quarters to prevent waste of government money. Currently, teachers posted at Kaushalya Nagar are willing to shift to government accommodations, but the poor condition of the quarters is deterring them,” say some teachers.
The Pradhan of Kaushalya Nagar, Mr DN Bhattarcharya refused to intervene in the issue terming it to be departmental matter. Interestingly, the Pradhan is the Chairman of PTA Committee of the School and has every right to raise the concern with the concerned authorities.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Dec 20: A fire was reported from the diary section of South Andaman DC office yesterday. As soon as the Fire Brigade got the information, several vehicles of Fire Services reached the spot and the fire was doused in no time.
It is believed that the fire erupted because of overheating of a wall fan, which was not switched off by employees on Friday, while leaving the office. As per reports several important files kept in the Diary section of DC office has been burnt in this fire accident. The DC of South Andaman Mr. V K Vidhuri arrived at the spot, when he learnt about the Fire Accident.

Senthil Kumar
Rangat, Dec 18: An Anganwadi Centre in remote Middle Andaman stands testimony to the official apathy towards the effective implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in the North and Middle Andaman district.
The construction of the Anganwadi Centre at Kaushalya Nagar that started ten years ago is still incomplete and children are forced to study at a temporary Anganwadi Centre in a government quarter of Education Department of the area.
According to reports, several children below 4 years of Kaushalya Nagar have been deprived of the benefits of the government scheme for the indifference of the authorities.
The administration allotted funds for construction of the Anganwadi Centre years ago and the work was awarded to the selected player. However, the construction work is continuing since the last ten years.
“Anganwadi centres are run under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, which aims at improving the nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years and lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child. The apathy displayed by the authorities towards constructing the permanent building for Anganwadi Centre at Kaushalya Nagar has defeat the very purpose of the ICDS scheme. Repeated pleas seeking attention of the authorities concerned towards early completion of the construction have fallen on deaf ears all these years,” said some residents of Kaushalya Nagar.

DJ Venkatesh & Sarthak Kanjilal

Diglipur, Dec 15: Sighting of possible ISRO’s rocket that carried six Singapore satellites yesterday, triggered excitement as well as confusion in Andamans.

According to reports at around 0620 PM people around R K Gram and Subashgram found a mysterious big path of light, which was going up and up, leaving behind a dark smoke trail.

People started calling security agencies about that mysterious light. From Television news many understood that that ISRO had launched a satellite at the same time from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, and they could link the incident with that launch.

Not only in Diglipur at Port Blair dozens of people had seen such light yesterday and a few had recorded the same in camera.