DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, July 26: Govt. Model Senior Secondary School, Diglipur had decided to introduce a unique kind of uniform with same pattern of clothes for both boys and girls two years back. For the first year the school sold the uniform to the students but this year the school authority gave away this job to top a local shop of Diglipur region. But now it has been found that the shop this year was unable to provide sufficient clothing for the uniforms of the students.

Although it was the duty of the concerned shop to keep the sufficient quantity of cloths for uniforms in stock before the reopening of the school but due to total negligence of the shop owners now students are facing the burnt.

The school authorities now have strictly instructed the students to wear uniform form 1st of August 2013 and on the other side the shopkeeper informed that it will take a longer time since the uniform clothing has to come all the way from Mumbai and for fast delivery of the uniform he will have to bare extra courier charges.

Diglipur is one of the remotest parts of the Islands and fetching products from mainland India takes time, the compulsion from the school authorities is creating problems for the parents as their wards are forcing them to get uniform form anywhere, which is not possible because the unique clothing is not available anywhere in these Islands.

The school authorities should give some more time to the students and the shopkeeper should also ensure availability of uniform clothing in adequate quantity throughout the year for the convenience of the students.

 

 

DJ Venktatesh
Diglipur, July 28: An illegal river sand sale depot has come up at Keralapuram Village of Diglipur on Survey Number 102, which is classified as Agricultural Land (P-II). According to reports the sand sale depot came up overnight without obtaining prior permission from the Competent Authority.

However, according to reports available here the sale of river sand has now been STAYED till diversion of land from Agricultural Purpose to Commercial Purpose, after this matter was brought to the notice of revenue officials. Under section 40(2) 150 and 151 this is illegal to carryout commercial activities on Agricultural lands.

 

Tarun Kartick
Port Blair, July 26: The State Transport Service Express bus D2-Express Travelling from Port Blair to Kadamtala, which leaves Port Blair in afternoon hours, today suffered a breakdown at Garacharma.

Usually an alternate bus is provided by the STS in such cases but today the STS did not provide an alternate bus and decided to repair the bus, which suffered breakdown. The breakdown vehicle of STS also reportedly reached the spot after considerable delay and by the time the bus was ready to continue its journey it was already 2:30 PM. The last convey from Jirgatang to Middle Strait starts at 3:00 Pm after which no vehicle is allowed to travel through ATR, beyond Jirkatang check post.

As it was not possible for the bus to travel to Kadamtala today, the stranded and angry passengers reportedly reached the office of the Secretary- cum- Director of Transport, Mr. G.L Meena and demanded accommodation for stranded passengers.

Finally after a long time the Director of Transport had to accept the demand of the passengers to provide accommodation, which is first of its own kind of incident in Andaman’s History. However, till late evening it was not decided that where these stranded passengers will be accommodated.

Highly placed sources informed Andaman Sheekha that an alternate bus was not provided because the STS did not have spare bus for the ATR route. It is the prime duty of the Transport Officer, Bus Terminus to ensure that spare bus is available with the terminus to tackle such unpredictable incidents.

The state transport services yesterday launched a control room with one of the main objectives as getting real time information about breakdown of busses but what change will the State Transport Services make with this control room if it does not keep busses in spare for the most important route in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

It’s high time for the authorities to wake up and make a change in their system so that the inconvenience to the public is avoided and not regretted. The responsible authorities should ensure availability of spare busses for ATR routes and should also avoid delay in sending the breakdown vehicle.

Most importantly it has been found that the top officers of Transport Department shy away from media and do not answer to any questions raised by media on public issues, this only shows the department not only lacks a proper system but also professionalism.

 

D J Venkatesh
Diglipur, July 15: A body was recovered from the Magar Nallah of Diglipur Island today in totally decomposed state. Later deceased was identified at Mr. Dilip Halder of VS Palli village, aged nearly 50 years.
According to police sources, the person was missing since last few days. Police department is suspecting that Mr. Halder might have fallen victim of killer crocodiles of Magar Nallah as one hand and one leg of the body was missing. The body was later handed over to the family members today.
Earlier, on September 10, 2012 Andaman Sheekha had reported that a crocodile from the Magar Nallah had come out in open and ventured inside the village. If this is really a crocodile attack then the killer crocodile of the Magar Nallah must be captured by the Forest Department immediately.
The Lt. Governor of A & N Islands has already expressed deep anguish on the periodic crocodile attacks on people and directed Administration to take concrete steps to ensure that human lives are protected. Hope that the Forest Department take this issue seriously and take concrete steps to stop further crocodile attacks.

Port Blair, July 15: The Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) A K Singh, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, visited North & Middle Andaman district. At Mayabunder, the Lt Governor inspected Dr. RP Hospital. He took a round of the hospital and interacted with the in-patients as well as out-patients, and inquired about the health care facilities provided to them by the hospital.

He also visited MG Govt. College, Mayabunder, and met the Principal and staff. Various issues relating to the improvement of the college including shortage of teaching staff were discussed in the meeting.

During the interaction with the students, he exhorted them to work hard and aim for higher goals in life. A group of locals whose Gumti’s had seen removed were given relief by the Lt Governor, who directed the Deputy Commissioner (M&N Andaman) to make permanent arrangements for them soon. On their part, the people assured the Lt Governor that they will not encroach on the footpath and also keep the area clean.

Later, he held a meeting with the representatives of PRIs at Mayabunder Guest House. He observed that the Administration would be more responsive to the problems of the people of North & Middle Andamans, and that Secretaries of different Departments will now be directed to undertake regular visits to North and Middle Andamans so that problems can be redressed quickly and effectively. He also inaugurated the Fish Landing Centre of Durgapur in Diglipur and interacted with the PRIs and local fishermen.

The Chief Secretary, Shri Anand Prakash and other senior officers of the Administration accompanied him during the tour.

 

Trinath
Billyground, July 10: Many renowned educationists had suggested that education must be imparted to students by keeping students close to nature. It seems that students of Government Middle School, Billyground have come too close to nature, as they have to count of nature for answering every call of nature.
Govt. Middle School, Billyground is reportedly suffering from lack of toilet facilities since a long time. The school caters the educational needs for about 550 students but still does not have proper toilet facilities.
It was also reported that the lone Member of Parliament of these Islands Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray had visited the school a few years back and on request from the Head Master for construction of a new toilet block, he immediately sanctioned funds for the construction of toilet block from the MPLAD fund.

After the sanctioning of the fund a tender was floated and one of the contractors of the Rangat Bay got the contract for the said construction work.
According to the sources the contractor started the work about six months ago but till now not even half of the work is completed because the said contractor is reportedly showing deep negligence towards the work.
Villagers told Andaman Sheekha that labourers of the said contractor come to the site only for four of five days in a month, which is causing this delay.
“The work could merely be completed in three months but it is taking long time because of the negligence of the contractor,” said an angry parent, who doesn’t want his name to be quoted.
Meanwhile the students of the school are compelled to attend the nature’s call in open spaces or behind coconut trees. While little kids never bother about public, grown up students of the school have to play eye-spy everyday while answering to nature’s call in open area.
During rainy days things become too difficult for them. Girl students and the lady staffs of the school are the worst affected.
As children attend nature’s call in open, it has now become impossible to walk through the road, situated close the school. Even people living close to the school complain about nose busting smell of human excreta.
Parents and students now demand urgent intervention of the Deputy Commissioner of N & M Andaman as well as the Chief Secretary of A & N Administration in this matter. “Someone must direct the said contractor to finish the construction work in war footing to bring some relief for the students of GMS Billyground,” said a prominent villager of Billyground.