DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Sept 02: On July 31, 2013 Andaman Sheekha had reported about troubling barricades of Diglipur Island. According to reports these barricades were giving nightmares to the general public instead of facilitating them as because of light weight these barricades were falling on vehicles and also on people. Now it has been observed that the light weight barricades have been fixed with strong base, which are now yielding wonderful results.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Aug 30: An over-speeding police jeep today collided with a private bus, SS Transport at Morisdera area of Rangat this afternoon.
According to eye witnesses, rash driving of the Police Jeep resulted in this accident, which left both the occupant of the Jeep, Sub Inspector Tamilarasan and Driver/Constable Rupesh, badly injured.
Both the injured police personnel were soon shifted to nearby Hospital, from where both of them have been referred to Port Blair today.

Trinath
Billiground, Aug 30: In another road accident that took place in front of the State Cooperative Bank Branch of Billiground area at about 1:10 Pm on 29th of August 2013 one rented vehicle of SBI Billiground collided with another truck which belonged to the forest department .
The general commuters claimed that it was the car driver whose negligence caused the accident and the police team consisting of SI & ASI reached the spot and called the Mechanical Engineer of STS to assess the damages after which both the drivers were taken to the hospital for medical examination and a case was registered under the Motor vehicles act.
Meanwhile, the SBI’s rented car was seen with a white registration plate which meant that it was a private vehicle and the accident raised several questions on the policies of various Govt. Departments and Govt. Undertakings for hiring of vehicles.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Aug 16: As per law of this land it is illegal to hire a vehicle, with while registration number plate, for commercial use. According to present rules, vehicles with yellow registration number plate are only allowed to commercial works in these Islands.

But this rule is always openly violated by many Government Departments again and again. In Mayabunder region it has become a trend to book vehicles with white number plate for various government works.

APWD, Zilla Parishad and Panchayat of Mayabunder are booking only a few selected white board vehicles again and again for government works, making mockery of the present system.

Andaman Sheekha has exclusive photographs of a few vehicles, which doesn’t have license to do commercial works, but are booked by Andaman PWD.

Andaman Sheekha’s Mayabunder Correspondent have found that in most of the cases the departments are not even putting a tag of “On Government Duty” on these vehicles, to avoid complications as while making payment, in most of the cases, payment is made against yellow board vehicle.

“We have to pay nearly Rs. 10,000 to Rs 15,000 for permit in DC office every year but while booking often government departments give preference to white board vehicles. This is injustice,” said a resident of Mayabunder.
Not only in Mayabunder, in Port Blair too such practice is widespread. Employees working in same department influence the HoDs and put their own vehicle for commercial use, violating rules and regulation.

Hiring white board vehicles may look like a minor offense but if the amount of money, involved in this deal is considered, then the offence looks too serious and when it’s a question of hiring dozens of such vehicles everyday then the amount crosses several lakhs in a year.

The Lt. Governor has already clarified that he would follow “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” policy. Isn’t this corruption? Who will take action against such illegal deals.

Port Blair, Aug 16: The  Independence Day was celebrated at Gram Panchayat Bhawan, Sundergarh along with rest of the nation. Mr. Biju Gurudasasn, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Sundergarh hosted the nation flag in the Panchayat Bhawan premises. Speaking on this occasion he highlighted the importance of Independence Day and remembered the freedom fighters who gave away their lives for liberty of India on this occasion.

He also briefed the citizens regarding the current development works and many number of works to be initiated in future under Gram Panchayat, Sundergarh. After completion of programme sweets were distributed among the villagers. He also visited the Primary Health Centre, South Creek and distributed sweets & fruits among the patients. A communication from Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Sundergrah said.