ANDAMAN SHEEKHA

The True Mirror of A & N Islands

Suder Grah Gram Panchayat Expresses Gratitude towards Lt. Governor

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Port Blair, Aug 16: An assurance was given to Mr. Biju Gurudasasn, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Sundergarh by the Lt.Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) A.K.Singh, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM for initiating of FLat Bay road for four km as demanded by the villagers of Flat Bay since 60 years.
The Lt. Governor kept his promise and accomplished the same via tender order vide no.. 1-1/EE/ZP/N & M/ Tender/MB/2013-14/635 dated. 06th August 2013 for one km has been handed over to Mr. Biju Gurudasasn, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Sundergarh on his visit at Baratang. The Lt. Governor has also given assurance to initiate the remaining three kilometres road as soon as possible.
Mr. Biju Gurudasasn, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Sundergarh and the villagers of Flat Bay, Baratang is his highly grateful towards the immediate action taken by his excellence along with Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner and Adhyaksha, Zilla Parishad, North & Middle Andaman.

Large Scale Encroachment in Billyground area; SDM imposes section 144

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Staff Correspondent : Express News Service

Billyground, Aug 12:  More than 50 people in Harinagar area recently entered in vacant land with an intension to encroach the land, ultimately the Sub Division Magistrate had to interfere and impose section 144 in that vacant land. Later Andaman Sheekha investigation found that these people were troubled by continuous erosion of their cultivation land due to flow of river. Though they have given series of representations but their problems were never taken seriously by the District Adminitration.

Most of the Population of the North and Middle Andaman Region comprises of settlers, settled by the Govt. of India under Colonization Schemes. The settlers were given land at the time of settlement so that they could indulge in agricultural activities and earn a decent living and help in the development of the Islands.

But for many settler families, who got their land close to river, now consider themselves as the most unlucky lot because a considerable portion of their land has been taken away by river current. Erosion of land along the river bed is now threatening their agricultural land also their existence.

Settler families living along the river bed in Swadeshnagar, Shantipur, Harinagar, Pinakinagar, Jaippur, Profullo Nagar and Paresh Nagar villages are the worst hit. The worst examples of Land Erosion could easily be seen at Harinagar, Pinakinagar and Nimbudera areas, where a considerable portion of cultivable land has already been washed away by river.

Since last many years, villagers of these areas have been requesting the Administration to provide them alternative land but till now they got nothing except assurance. During the recent visit of Lt. Governor to North and Middle Andaman, the Lt. Governor had himself inspected lands, threatened by Land Erosion.

Residents of Middle Andaman fear that if no action is taken by Administration now then in coming future the Andaman Truck Road may also fall victim of such so

The residents now fear that if Administration does not take any early action in this regard the Andaman Trunk Road could also become a victim of such erosion. Not only this in several areas of Middle Andaman, like Radha Govind Temple area of Billyground such land erosion is threatening normal life as in future such erosion will also cause serious damages to houses and properties of settler families.

The attempt of encroaching vacant land by these villagers clearly shows the level of frustration and anger among these villagers. Hope the Administration will wake up before these troubled villagers take any other serious step.

Subhashgram Panchayat starts its biggest project under MGNREGA at N & M Andaman

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Diglipur, Aug 08: Subhashgram Panchayat today started the biggest project of N & M Andaman Ward No.3 under MGNREGA which was inaugurated by Dr. Vivek Kumar, Asst Commissioner, Diglipur in the presence of Mr. P. R Singaram Pradhan, Subhah Gram Up-Pradhan Subhash kumar Mallick and concerned PRI members.
Inaugurating the work the Asst Commissioner Dr. Vivek Kumar said that this is the biggest project of the N & M Andaman till date which aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people living there by guaranteeing hundreds of days of wage-employment and the people should take the benefit work and take care of the project after completion also. Speaking on this occasion Pradhan Subhash gram Mr. P. R Singaram said that the work pertains to construction of Plantation on the Grazing Land at Subhash Gram including , Land Development, Fencing, development of two ponds, Eco Huts, pasture, Horticulture Plantation under the Guidance of Agriculture Department , Diglipur.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 38,75,473/- and the expected number of man days that it will create is 12330. The people should take the benefit the MGNREGA work as far as possible until the project completes and after completion also with continuous monitoring which will also improve rural connectivity and strengthen the livelihood resource base of the rural poor.

 

People Deprived of Clean Water at Many villages of Rangat Area

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Senthil Kumar
Rangat, Aug 5: APWD in Rangat has constructed a Ring Well under the Rangat Nalah Bridge at Rangat to supply clean water to the surrounding areas. The water from the Ring well is pumped to the filtering bed after which it is supplied to the surrounding areas.

According to reports from that well water is supplied to Sitapur, Sabri, Mithila, Dashratpur area and the water remains clean during the summer season but during the rainy season when Rangat Nalah is flooded, dirty and muddy water enter inside the Ring well.

According to villagers during rainy days they get remains of mosses and dirt in the water despite of the fact that the water passes through filtering bed before supply.

The villagers from all the areas to which the ring well water is supplied are facing the same problem and according to reports some of the villagers even got sick because of the unhygienic water supplied by the APWD.

Regarding this the General Public have already registered their complaint with the EE APWD of the area but did not get any suitable help from him and the unhygienic condition of the water remained the same.

As per reports angry villagers also gave a letter of representation to the Chief Engineer, APWD which also fetched them no good results. The Citizen Forum of Human Rights has been actively working with the people of the area to get their problem solved but till now they are also unable to bring any relief.

When Andaman Sheekha contacted Mr. Gour Majumdar, Pradhan, Dashratpur, he informed that two residents of the area had already met the LG during his visit to Rangat and explained him the problem. “Villagers are now waiting for some action atleast from the side of Lt. Governor,” he added.

Tree falls on house; two injured

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D J Venkatesh
Diglipur Aug,06 A giant tree today fell on the house of Y Gouriamma at New Fishermen colony at Durgapur, Diglipur. Soon a fire tender rushed to the spot and people were evacuated and rescue operation was carried by disaster management team comprising the Asst. Commissioner Dr. Vivek Kumar, R.I Manoj Kumar Roy and Patwari Sudeep Saha. A lady and a child reportedly sustained minor injuries and were admitted in PHC Diglipur.

LG visits Rangat and Billiground

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Port Blair, August 4: The Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) A K Singh, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, yesterday visited Rangat where he held a meeting with the PRI members and many residents at the Zilla Parishad auditorium. He listened patiently to all problems and suggestions of the people and addressed the gathering, also sharing his vision and focus areas for the progress and betterment of the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Later, he visited Govt. Secondary School, Billiground, and took a round of the school and inspected the arrangements there for the mid-day meals. He further directed the Authorities to improve the basic facilities in all the schools. He inspected the condition of roads in Harinagar and issued directions to the concerned Authorities for immediate repair of the roads. The Lt Governor also visited Cutbert Bay Tourism Guest House and issued directions for immediate repair and renovation of the guest house. Thereafter, the Lt Governor also visited the Nature Walkway at Dhaninallah and appreciated the facility created.

News of LG’s visit trigger panic in Middle Andaman :::: Repair works begin in Forgotten School of Billyground; Middle Andaman Shinning

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Trinath
Billy Ground, July 31: As this month began Andaman Sheekha had raised the condition of the toilet blocks of Middle School Billyground and how the kids were facing problems while responding to the nature’s call. We had also raised the unhygienic condition of the old toilet block and the problems caused to the girl students and staffs.

Villagers had demanded that the contractor should undertake the construction work of the new toilet block of Middle School, Billyground at the earliest but till last week the work of the toilet Block was not taken up.

As Wes Fessler once said “Cleanliness is the cornerstone of discipline and the trademark of success,” this matter had to be dealt with utmost importance. Nearly one month has passed by but no actions were taken in this regard. Andaman Sheekha had also urged the DC, North & Middle Andaman to look into the matter but even the DC did not get any time to see the condition of the toilet block during this one month period. Though the DC made several visits to other parts of Middle Andaman but he did not find time to visit the school and see how the students of the said school are suffering.

It is surprising that when the DC received the intimation of the visit of the Lt Governor at Middle School Billyground on 3rd of August he immediately visited Middle School Billyground and other schools adjacent to the area and saw the problems of students.

The DC also realized that if the Lt Governor would see such prevailed condition during his visit it would be disastrous and hence the DC immediately directed the concerned authority for repair and maintenance of the school building and the old toilet block on war footing.

Therefore on the very next day the Engineers arrived with the Contractor at Middle School Billyground and replaced all the doors of the old Toilet Block and carried out other repairing and maintenance work at the school. The Headmaster of the school and Principal of Govt. Sr. Sec. School requested the concerned APWD authority for the repair work many times in the past but the works were not carried out, but as they received the intimation that the Lt. Governor is scheduled to visit Billyground Middle School they all arrived at the school for repair, patch up and face lifting works.

The General Public of Billiground area are questioning today that will the officers only work when there is a scheduled visit of the Lt. Governor and on rest of the days just enjoy the salary and keep their eyes and ears closed.

The people of the Middle Andaman from Baratang to Nimbudera area now request the Lt. Governor via Andaman Sheekha, to visit Middle Andaman by road and only then, he would understand the ground realities.

Further, the people of Middle Andaman also requested to LG to arrange at least two LG’s Darbars at Rangat and Billyground so that the common people can share their pains and sufferings and also get their problem solved directly from him.

Mahatma Gandhi once said that “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Sadly there is hardly anyone to follow the words of the Father of the Nation.

N & M Andaman’s SBI ATMs give nightmares to customers

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Staff Correspondent
Mayabunder, July 30: Mayabundar the Headquarters of the North and Middle Andaman District is blessed with SBI’s so called ATM Service, which remains interrupted on most of the days in a month. The General Public of the area faces a lot of problems because of the poor ATM service provided by the SBI.
In one hand the Administration is trying hard to popularize North and Middle Andaman District as a popular tourist destination and on the other hand the ATM’s of SBI are souring the joy of the tourists visiting the place.
Most of the tourists face the problem of not having adequate cash once they step into the boundaries of the N & M Andaman district. Tourists, after seeing the conditions of the ATMs, try their luck in bank branches by submitting cheques but still face difficulties as the cheques of other banks are not cleared on the same day.
Sometimes accidently, if the SBI ATM starts working, at that instant a crowd gathers near it to fill their cash reserves for next few weeks. The crowd withdraws huge amounts to add to their reserves and as a result the ATM goes out of cash and stops working again.
Repeated complaints were lodged by the general public in past and the local media has also been writing about this issue again and again but but still SBI authorities do not bother to improve their service in North and Middle Andaman.
The SBI ATM’s at Rangat and some other places in the North and Middle Andaman District also remains in the same condition. The much awaited salary day is approaching and very soon the employees of the banks are going to have a hard time tackling the crowd just because their bank is unable to keep up the ATM Services.

Barricade Troubles Public in Diglipur

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D J Venkatesh
Diglipur, July 30: In Diglipur area recently new barricades were placed at different places to separate path ways and parking places. These barricades were placed so that the general public of the area
are facilitated and the place looks organized.
But these barricades are now giving nightmares to the general public instead of facilitating them because they are so light in weight that they cannot stand even in low density winds and fall off on the vehicles and also on people standing near them, damaging vehicles and injuring people.
The barricades features advertisements of Ramco cement and are placed in several places in Diglipur. Now the million dollar question is whether these sub-standard barricades were procured by the Advertisers or the Police department.