Baratang Correspondent
Baratang, July 19: The residents and grassroot leaders of Middle Andaman region have been demanding for formation of Baratang-Havelock Corridor, to boost tourism in the Middle Andaman region.
The Baratang Islands has become one of the favorite destinations in Andaman for Indian tourists although not too many foreign touristsvisit the Islands.
Till now, the Baratang is famous only for Lime Stones Cave, Parrot Island and Mud Volcano but not many people know that Baratang has some other good places like Baludera and Roglachang Beach.
Although the journey from Port Blair to Baratang is nearly 3-4 hours long but not many people know that Baratang is hardly 30 minutes away from Havelock and hence local tour operators are now demanding to develop a Baratang-Havelock Corridor so that those tourists, especially foreign tourists, who visit Havelock can easily visit Baratang in small boats and enjoy all best destinations of Middle Andaman too, Alagar, a grassroot leader of Baratang area told Andaman Sheekha.
Recently, the Administration has been criticised by the International organisations for keeping the ATR open for tourists and many believe if the Baratang and Havelock Corridor is opened and some small passenger boats are kept for the route, then tourists can easily come to Baratang from Havelock in small boats.
After visiting Baratang, they can either go back to Havelock or come back to Port Blair via road, this will reduce half of the traffic in ATR, Mr Alagar added.
According to local tour operators of Baratang region, Baratang provides many possibilities for Andaman Tourism, if Baratang- Havelock Corridor is developed, tourists won’t mind visiting Rangat and other areas of Middle Andaman too and hence, the entire Tourism Industry will get a boost.
Talking to the media, Director of Andamans Tourism Department Vishwakannan accepted that the Administration is aware of the Baratang- Havelock Corridor but he said there are some hurdles.
The entry point of Baratang has some rocky sea-bed, for which dredging has to be carried out so that passenger ferry can enter Baratang port. Once the dredging work is over, the Baratang- Havelock Corridor can be opened, the Director added.

Staff Correspondent

Port Blair, July 17: The JNRM staff quarter region, situated between RGT road and JNRM Ram Krishna Mission are badly hit by mosquito menace. According to residents of the area not only in night but in day time one get extremely troubled due to growing number of mosquito in the area.

The entire area around the JNRM quarters were marshy land long back and today even after moderate spell of rain water gets accumulated in various places, which is perhaps one of the main reasons behind such rise in mosquito population.

Residents can’t keep windows and doors open after twilight because of the mosquitoes.

It has been learnt that, under National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, the first round of Indoor Residual Spray (DDT) in A & N Islands will be held from June 18 to August 31, 2015. Resident of the area just hope that this drive will bring some solace to them.

Staff Correspondent
Baratang: Dedicated teachers and desire among students to excel has made a remote school in Middle Andaman set high standards in both academics and sports. The Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Oralkatcha in Baratang has registered excelled performance in both the sectors outscoring many schools in the district in the recent years.
According to reports, the Oralkatcha School registered 100 percent results in Biology, Mathematics and Hindi in the CBSE examinations last year. In the sports arena, students of the institution bagged as many as 41 medals, 22 Gold and 17 Silver, in the 18th State School Games held in December last year. The U-14 and U-17 Boys and Girls Soccer team has also been selected for the State level tournament after a brilliant performance in the zonal level. This year the U-17 Boys and Girls team routed various teams of Rangat zone to get selected for the State-level tournament scheduled to held at Port Blair from the 23rd of this month.
The Oralkatcha School is blessed with a devoted pool of teachers and parents too extend cooperation to see their wards excel in both academics and sports. Several students scored excellent marks in the CBSE exams, both in Class X and Class XII, this year. Students even enthusiastically participate in various sports events. The school has a sound enrolment and students from various parts of Baratang, even parts of Kadamtala, prefer to pursue education in this school. We are optimistic that teachers will continue the good work and the Education Department will render all possible support for the remote students of Baratang,” said some parents.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, June 18: In a shocking development as many as 10 police jawans have been placed under suspension today by Police Department.
According to reports following some complaints the SP of Police Marine Force (PMF), Mrs. Aslam Khan paid a surprise visit to Junglighat Jetty yesterday during which she found many Police Officers and Jawans of PMF, missing from duty.
Following this the SP placed Four Head Constables and Six constables under suspension and reportedly forwarded names of a few officers like Engineers and Masters to superiors for further action.
It is believed that nearly 3 to 4 officers may also face similar consequence.

Pronoy Hawildar & Amit Halder
Port Blair, June 18: One person severely injured while 3 sustained minor injuries when their Jeep overturned at Port Mout area this morning at around 10:15 am.
According to reports, the driver of the Jeep was trying to overtake a STS bus very speedily because of which he lost the control over the Jeep, which resulted in the accident.
On information a team of Ograbraj Police reached the spot immediately and rushed the injured to the nearby hospital.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, June 16: In a very interesting development a group of fishermen today caught a Giant Gobra fish, which is as huge as a bike.
The fish was brought to shore of Dugnabad fish landing area at around 8.00 AM this morning and soon huge number of people started gathering the place to take a glimpse and click a picture.
According to details the fish was caught early this morning by fishing lines and it took four people to pull out the fish from sea into the fishing dinghy.
Later the auction for this giant fish started at Rs. 1200 and finally it was sold at Rs. 3000. The photograph of the fish is now doing round in social media.

Senthil Kumar & Trinath
Port Blair, June 16: The Geetanjali Express bus and a truck of St. Paul Construction Company this afternoon collided head-on at CFO Nallah area of Middle Andaman, which is nearly 24 km away from Billyground.
According to reports the Geetanjali Express Bus was going towards Diglipur while the Truck was coming from opposite direction. Although reason behind this collision is still not known but it is believed that due to heavy rain and slippery road one of the drivers had lost control.
The Truck of St. Paul Construction suffered deadly damages. The driver of the truck and son of the owner of the St. Paul Construction company, who was sitting next to the driver, suffered minor injuries. However, none of the person in the Bus suffered any injuries. Police has registered a case in this regard.

Port Blair, June 16: Firing practice for NCC Cadets of Andaman & Nicobar Islands is being conducted at Chinthe and Jarawa firing range from 15 Jun to 20 Jun 2015 as part of CATC camp. It will be endeavour of NCC to give firing practice to all the NCC Cadets attending the camp. The firing will commence at 0930 AM daily.