DJ Venkatesh

Diglipur, Oct 29: As part of ‘Prashashan Aap Ke Dwar’ call of Administration, the Asst. Commissioner of Diglipur Island,Mr. A .K Trivedi along with a team of HODs of all Departments and other officials undertook a tour of Sagar Dweep area at Smith Island today.

They reviewed the progress of development works and redressed of public grievances at Sagar Dweep.

The meeting was held at Community Hall at Sagar Dweep, during the meeting Asst Commissioner asked the people to use proper utilization of District cultural fund, he assured of better drinking water supply within month as over head tank work will be finished soon.

The public of the area demanded to handover the water supply division to the APWD for better maintenance. Asst Commissioner asked the authorities to start grazing land scheme under MGNREGA as lands have already been identified.

A good number of local issues were settled on the spot and for rest the AC asked the concerned departments to look into the matter.

Asst Commissioner also undertook inspection of Govt. Middle School, Sub-centre, water supply tank, Met with Preprimary school children and inspected quality of Mid-day meals.
He also inspected 8 family beach. The tour is part of efforts of the Administration to provide a responsive and people friendly administration to the people of these Islands.

Earlier Pradhan Keralapuram Shankar Das welcomed the gathering. ZP member, Mr. J. Boby asked the all people to cooperate for overall development of the Island. Samiti Member Suniti Biswas and general public attended the meeting.

ZP member expressed gratitude to the team and the programme Sarkar aap ke Dwar, for visiting the remote area.

Sarthak Kanjilal

Port Blair, Oct 28: Facing flak for a redundant flotilla of Speed Boats, the Directorate of Shipping Services is now actively considering transfer of technical management to the Shipping Corporation of India. Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, the Director of Shipping Services, Capt. Rajinder Kumar recently said that the contract to outsource technical management of 17 Speed Boats with a private firm was entered into to increase the operational ability of the vessels.

“But after the desired results were not obtained, the Shipping Department has proposed the UT Administration to transfer the technical management of the vessels to the SCI. The expertise of the SCI will certainly increase the operational ability of the Speed Boats if the technical management is transferred to the Corporation. The proposal is in the final stages of execution and the technical management of the Speed Boats will be handed over to SCI soon,” he said.

Trinath
Billyground, Oct 28: In yet another fatal accident, a resident of Betapur has been crushed to death under the rear tyres of a truck at Nibudera Bazaar Chawk.

According to reports the victim was going towards Mayabunder on a bike and while crossing the Nibudera Bazaar Chawk the bike rider, Mr. Ajoy Kumar aged 34 yrs R/o Betapur, who was reportedly driving his bike at very high speed, tried to overtake the truck from wrong side.

As per eye witnesses while overtaking, due to high speed, he could not control the bike and fell under the rare tyres of the truck. The truck dragged the body to nearly 5 mtrs before the truck driver could realize what has happened beneath his truck.

Mr. Ajoy Kumar, who was a contractor by profession, died on the spot.

On getting information a police team of PS Billyground reached the spot and shifted the body to PHC Billyground Mortuary for further course of action.

The Truck driver Mr. Vipeen R/o Karmatang, surrendered himself at Badamnalla Outpost, under PS Billyground. A case has been registered against Mr. Vippeen, under Motor Vehicle accident Act and he was arrested.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Oct 28: The Father and other family members of Late Abdul Gafoor, former SHO of Car Nicobar Police Station, met the Chief Secretary of A & N Administration, yesterday and demanded an impartial inquiry into the entire matter.
The family members also demanded stringent action against those who were responsible for the circumstances, which forced Sub Inspector, K P Abdul Gafoor to take the extreme step.
The Chief Secretary of A & N Administration has reportedly assured the parents and relatives of Late Abdul Gafoor that the Administration will leave no stone unturned to reach to the bottom of this issue and find out the truth.
Meanwhile, there are rumours that Late Abdul Gafoor had sent a few SMS before committing suicide, which can be considered as suicide note but till now this matter could not be confirmed as all the officials of Police Department are tight lipped at this point of time.
Relatives of Late Abdul Gafoor today told Andaman Sheekha that he was not happy with the Car Nicobar posting due to several unwanted pressures on him and his father used to often console him over telephone.

Ganesh Sarkar & Sajith Das
Port Blair, Oct 27: A mass protest was organised at Hut Bay  area of Little Andaman island infront of the Tehsilder office by the PRI members and villagers of the area.
The main demand of the villagers was to immediately evacuate 300 to 400 excess passengers who are stranded at Hut Bay since yesterday.
Other demands include increasing the frequency of vessels between Hut Bay and Port Blair and provide two sorties of helicopter daily.
The protest started at 10.00 am and ended at 2.00 pm after a delegation handed over a letter containing all demands to the Tehsilder of Hut Bay, which was later forwarded to the DC of South Andaman, it is learnt.
Tomorrow MV Dering is reaching Hut Bay and there are all possibilities of another protest at the jetty tomorrow.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Oct 26: The Mainland Vessel MV Swaraj Dweep on Sunday lost one of its Anchors near Kolkata Port, allegedly, due to negligence and lack of proper maintenance.
According to highly placed sources the incident took place near the Lock Gate of Kolkata Port at around 11.30 PM on 25th October, when the vessel was entering the port.
The officers onboard the ship found that the anchor,on the starboard side, worth several lakhs, has slipped into the sea accidently, while lifting the same.
As per report now the management is planning to fix the alternative anchor in the ship but not at Kolkata but at Chennai, only during next sailing after reaching back to Port Blair.
Last year the vessel was supposed to be sent for Dry Dock for maintenance but instead of that the vessel was allowed to ferry public only after APS.
Many believe that had the vessel been taken to Dry Dock and proper maintenance work was carried out, this incident could have been averted.
It is said that the cost of fixing the alternate anchor will be around 20 to 25 lakhs, which will be a total wastage of tax payers’ money.
Now question arises that who should be questioned for this loss, the officer incharge of the ship, the SCI or the Shipping Department?

Staff Correspondent
Hut Bay, Oct 26: A flash protest was reported from Hut Bay Jetty this morning by a group of college students and other people of Little Andaman Island.
As per reports, the protest erupted when the master of the vessel refused to take excess passengers onboard. Due to Durga Puja, huge number of college students and other people had visited Hut Bay and all planned to return back to Port Blair today by M V Dering vessel sailing.
Due to excess passengers lot of college students and other passengers were denied entry inside the vessel, following which the fuming passengers sat on the ropes at around 8.00 am and protested against Shipping Department.
According to passengers, later a police team picked all protesting public from the Jetty and only after that the ship sailed for Port Blair at around 9.15 am.
The protestors were later released from the Police Station.
The protest caused delay in sailing by nearly one hour but the plight of passengers of MV Dering did not end there.
Many passengers, who did not carry food, expecting food from MV Dering canteen, found that the canteen of MV Dering has been kept closed for unknown reasons. Many passengers travelled all the way to Port Blair, empty belly for nearly 12 hours.