Senthil Kumar
Rangat, Dec 9: Battered road network in Ward nos. 6, 7 and 10 of Rangat areas has left residents enraged. Due to rampant quarry operations in the areas, movement of heavy trucks with stone aggregates is alleged to be the main reason for the deplorable condition of roads in the region, according to resident.
Speaking to this Correspondent, a number of residents of the area said that the administration has been apprised of the hardships caused to the people due to the battered road network. However, the administration has failed miserably to address the situation and no steps have been taken to shift quarry operations from the areas.
“Deplorable condition of the roads here is causing numerous problems to the residents here. Road accidents have become common and many residents have suffered serious injuries in the recent months. Besides, damage to vehicles due to the appalling roads is increased rapidly. Even school students, women and patients have been suffering a lot due to the poor conditions of the roads here,” said several residents speaking to this Correspondent demanding immediate remedial action by the authorities.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, December 09: A unit of National Student Union of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkiya Mahvidhyalaya conducted a fund collection drive in front of the College this morning to collect money for the Chennai Flood Victims. Nearly 25-30 active workers of NSUI, JNRM unit participated in the collection drive.
The unit is going to conduct this drive for three days. Tomorrow again the NSUI unit will be conducting a drive in front of JNRM College and from Thursday the unit will roam in different part of the Port Blair city for collecting funds for the Chennai Flood Victims.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, a worker of NSUI, JNRM unit, Mr Tanmay urged the people of the islands to contribute for the Chennai Flood Victims in whatever way they can.
“Today we have collected nearly Rs 4000-5000 and after completion of our camp we will deposit the amount in Lt. Governor relief camp,” Mr Tanmay added.

P Prasad & Sarthak Kanjilal

Port Blair, December 07: A State Transport Service bus was consumed by flames this morning at Aberdeen Bazaar Government Bus Terminus, thankfully no one was hurt.

As per report before starting for Brookshabad Trip, when the driver came out of the bus to call the conductor he saw smoke coming out of the bus.

Soon the flames erupted from the front side of the bus.

On information a team of Fire Brigade from Aberdeen Fire Station reached the spot and within a few minutes they took control over the fire. Two fire tenders and one bowser reached the spot in no time to control the fire.

As per Fire Brigade sources , short-circuit was the reason behind the fire.

Port Blair, Dec 07: The centenary of late Shri.Mahabir Singh, former Chief Commissioner and founder of JNRM(Govt.College then) was observed in the Seminar Hall of JNRM on 7-12-2015. It was due to the efforts of Shri.Mahabir Singh the first college of the Islands came into existence in 1967, as an evening college. Shri.Mahabir Singh used to teach English also in the College. Alumni of the first batch who were taught by Shri.Mahabir Singh were invited for the occasion alongwith Shri.Samir Acharya and Shri.Sharda Ram who worked with him.

Welcoming the guests Dr.N.Francis Xavier, Principal, JNRM said it was befitting that Shri.Mahabir Singh be remembered on his centenary because of his vast contribution in the field of education. It was also a rare opportunity for the students of the 1st batch to interact with the present students.

Shri. Samir Acharya, President INTACH, Port Blair Chapter narrated his association with Shri.Mahabir Singh during 1966-68. Describing him basically as an educationist, who used to teach in Lahore before joining the IAS, Shri. Acharya told the gathering that Shri.Mahabir Singh started the first Kendriya Vidyalaya and the Nursery School – Tunnu Munnu also during his tenure. He also described his style of functioning for the general betterment of life in Port Blair.

Shri.Joy Kumar Roy, retd. Dy.Director, SAI, student of 1st batch recollected with gratitude the names of teachers who taught them. Mrs. Sara Dias, retired G.T.T described college life in those days and advised the students to be disciplined and work hard. Shri. Jagdish Kishen, retd. Bank Officer described how difficult it was to go to college in the evening after attending to work in the office. Shri. Sharda Ram, Retd. Secretary State Scouts & Guides recollected how Shri. Mahabir Singh used to wear the Scout Uniform and participate in Scout activities to encourage the students. Shri. Sheikh Farooq Alam, former student, poet and entrepreneur described how the land for JNRM was granted through the association of his ancestor Haji Farzand Ali with Shri. Mahabir Singh.

The programme concluded with vote of thanks by Smti. Pearl Devdas, HOD Geography. Dr.Kandimuthu, Assistant Professor(Economics) coordinated programme.

Port Blair, Dec 7: The Lt. Governor, Lt. Gen. AK Singh (Retd.) has asked all the Departments of the Administration and other stakeholders to be prepared for any situation and prepare their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) well in advance. “While the lead agencies must take charge in any disaster like situation, each Department must know their duties and responsibilities”, he said while reviewing the status of disaster preparedness in A&N Islands in the conference hall of the Directorate of Disaster Management here today ahead of the conduct of State Level Mock Disaster Management Exercise- ‘Jeevan Raksha’.

Lauding the Disaster Management Department for its activities related to disaster preparedness in the Islands, the Lt Governor stated that the Administration is fully ready to tackle any eventuality.

The Lt. Governor also directed that lead Directorates should be nominated who should workout SoPs in consultation with Directorate of Disaster Management. He also asked the Deputy Commissioners of all the Districts to keep adequate equipments ready to deal with any situation, and further procure the required equipments.

The Lt. Governor also asked the Directorate of Health Services to be prepared for situations like epidemic & food contamination. He also asked the Civil Supplies Department to maintain the basic stock of essential commodities. Port Blair should have more stock of essential commodities, which can be sent to any Islands, in situation of need, he observed. He also asked the DGP to review the security scenario of the Islands.

The Chief Secretary, Shri Anand Prakash, DGP, Shri Rajesh Malik were also present in the review meeting.

The Principal Secretary (Rev), Raajiv Yaduvanshi apprised the Lt Governor that during the earlier session, different Departments of the Administration and Defence made PowerPoint presentations regarding disaster preparedness in Isles while the enhanced scope of disaster management was discussed threadbare. Immediate oil spill contingency plan is required to be put in place in consideration with the ICG, IOC, PMB and Pollution Control Board, the Principal Secretary added.

The Police Department, Director of Shipping Services and Indian Coast Guard made PowerPoint presentations on their Standard Operating Procedures while other Departments also submitted their SOPs for the successful conduct of the State Level Mock Disaster Management Exercise.

The Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, the Deputy Commissioner, North & Middle Andaman, and senior officials/ representatives of Directorate of Civil Supplies, APWD, DBRAIT, Electricity, PAO, Education, DHS, PMB, RCS, Science & Tech, & Zilla Parishad attended the meeting.

At the outset the Director, Disaster Management Deptt, Shri Ashok Sharma elaborated the series of actions to be initiated during any type of disastrous situation and our preparedness to tackle these situations. He further spoke about the levels of participation, duties and roles of each line department on the basis of Incident Response System (IRS) during the conduct of State Level Mock Disaster Management Exercise- ‘Jeevan Raksha’.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Dec 06: Nearly 130 Andaman Islanders, who were stranded at Chennai since past several days, have been brought to Port Blair today safely by Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
It was an emotional moment for many while for others it was a moment of great relief, when their family members, who were struck at Chennai due to heavy rain and flooding, came out of the airport with a smiling face. After meeting with family at Airport many broke into tears because of the great sense of relief.
An Air India aircraft with 130 passengers, mostly students, senior citizens and patients, reached at Port Blair today at around 12.45 pm.
A large number of people consisting of family members of the stranded passengers were waiting at Port Blair airport eagerly since morning.
Following directions of the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands nearly 150 Islanders, who were stranded because of Chennai Floods, were given shelter at K K Nagar and Anna Nagar Guest houses of Chennai since last couple of days. It has been learnt that the Lt. Governor had directed the DRC Chennai to open even VIP rooms for stranded passengers and DRC Chennai has put a great efforts to take proper care of all public.
The Lt. Governor had also directed the Deputy Resident Commissioner of Chennai and the Civil Aviation unit of Administration to make arrangements to bring back all Andaman’s stranded passengers at Chennai to Port Blair as soon as possible.
“Thanks to the Administration, Atleast we got a safe place to stay during Chennai floods. It was too difficult for us to stay back in College Hostels as due to flooding all kind of insects and snake entered our rooms,” said a college girl who came back in today’s flight.
Passengers said still lot of people, especially boys, are stranded at Chennai Andaman Guest House, mostly boys as in today’s flight preference was given to girls, senior citizens and patients.

Port Blair, Dec 06: The Lt Governor called for an urgent meeting today at Raj Niwas on the pressing issues of basic infrastructural requirements of the newly extended municipal wards. Immediately, after his return from the flood hit Puducherry, he summoned the senior officers to address the concerns expressed by the Chairperson, PBMC and other councillors of the extended municipal wards on the need for additional funds and greater focus of PBMC on the newly extended municipal areas. The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary (in Charge), Secretary (Finance), Secretary (PBMC) and CEO (Zilla Parishad). During the meeting, the Hon’ble Lt Governor took stock of the current baseline service levels that is prevailing in the extended municipal areas and issued directions to Secretary, PBMC to undertake measures on a war footing to fill the gap in the municipal services in those areas to achieve the minimum benchmark infrastructural levels that is prevailing in the other municipal areas.

As a follow up to this meeting, the Hon’ble Lt Governor would be visiting the extended municipal areas also on 9th December, along with senior officers and key municipal functionaries to get a first hand information of ground realities.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Dec 06: In yet another road accident at Diglipur, two people sustain injuries last evening.
According to report the accident took place at a turning near Keralapuram area of Diglipur, when two people on a bike were going towards Shibpur from Ramnagar village.
According to reports at the turning the bike was hit by an A-Star car, bearing registration no AN01E 5900.
The bike rider Mr. Binod Mandal of Ram Nagar, aged about 28 years and the pillion rider Mr. Sudhan Biswas, 25 years, resident of Shibpur sustained injuries in this accidents and were immediately shifted to hospital.
As per reports the Car and the Bike suffered heavy damages and it is learnt that the driver of the car and other occupants were under influence of liquor, a case has been registered in this regard.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Dec 04: The Police is under no political pressure following the arrests of alleged Bangladeshi nationals from Diglipur, said the Superintendent of Police, CID, Mr Athmaram Deshpande.
Speaking to journalists in CID office today, the SP CID said that the reports of harassment of citizens in the pretext of the interrogation are completely baseless.
“Police follow a set of rules before arresting the accused in any criminal cases. In the current case, the laid down principles of law were duly followed after which the arrests were made. Following specific complaints, the Police initiated action against the alleged Bangladeshi nationals residing in Diglipur for the last several years,” he maintained.
He said that the Police is duty bound to follow the law and ensure law and order in these islands. As such, cops will have to take action after complaints are registered.
“Instead of questioning the intention of the Police, the citizens should extend cooperation to the Police in the investigation process. But, the arrests of alleged Bangladeshi nationals from Diglipur are being termed as harassment of citizens despite the fact that the arrests were made for thorough investigation. I earnestly urge the citizens not to panic and appeal for cooperation in the investigation of the case,” added the SP CID.
He also said that presently police is also investigating how the arrested Bangladeshi Nationals have obtained documents like Islanders Card and who are behind this.
The hurried called press conference was organised just a day after a public meeting organised by some BJP leaders of Diglipur, where it was alleged that Police is harassing public. The Member of Parliament, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray had attended the meeting, however no other top BJP leaders attended the meeting.
Many believe the meeting at Diglipur was arranged to create a pressure on Police Department so that further arrests in Bangladeshi case could be averted.