DJ Venkatesh

Port Blair, July 09: The Pramukh Diglipur, Mr. Gauranga Dutta today distributed compensation cheques amounting Rs. 1 Lakh to the family members of 11 victims of Diglipur Dinghy Tragedy. The compensation amount were handed over in presence of Asst. Commander Dr. Vivek Kumar, Up-Pramukh Mr. Anil Mondal, Mr. Boby, Gen Secretary of Cong (I) were also present

11 people had died in an unprecedented tragedy on 28 May 2012, when a local non-mechanised boat carrying 15 persons capsized in the high seas during inclement weather conditions.

They were going for the picnic through creek to Kurmachad at 0800 hrs. Kurmachad is near the mouth of the creek. Generally the creek area is safe but due to extremely rough weather the accident occurred. At around 1100 hrs boat capsized and all the 15 people fell into the sea. Four people swam across and could reach the shore safely.

Administration and law of this land.

Andaman Sheekha has exclusive photographs of such encroachers who are daring the District Administration openly and constructing illegal structures again on encroached land.

One wonders what is the use of such encroachment drives when the Administration is unable to remove encroachments?

“Infact encroachment drives are a blessing in disguise for encroachers as with the challan slip they get after removal of encroachments, they prove in court that they have been living on the land since a long long time,” said a senior officer of Revenue Department, who does not want his name to be quoted.

Sumit Das
Port Blair, July 08: PRI Member of Pakkadera has cried foul over alleged misbehavior of the JE of APWD’s Mayabunder Water Section-I. Talking to Andaman Sheekha the Member of Ward Number 3, Pokkadera Gram Panchayat Narayan Rao said that a few days back he along with a social worker of Mayabunder, Aruloli went to meet the said JE and requested him to appoint a needy person of the area as Daily Rated Mazdoor (DRM) but instead of helping him the JE reportedly misbehaved with them infront of other DRMs.

The PRI member alleged that the JE is appointing DRMs as per his own choice and giving extension to some DRMs again and again. When Andaman Sheekha representative met him, the JE failed to give proper answer to his questions.

Meanwhile, the PRI member has already lodged a complaint with the Executive Engineer, NACD, APWD, who reportedly assured the PRI member to take appropriate action but till now no action has been taken by the EE, NACD.

“There are gross mismanagements in the water section of APWD, Mayabunder and I request the DC, N & M Andaman to look into this matter,” the ward member added.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, July 06: On 11, May 2011, the Lt. Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands had directed the A & N Police to crack down all vehicles including government vehicles using artificial films by 15 May 2012.

The direction came following a ruling of the Apex Court, which prohibited the use of black films of any visual light transmission percentage of any material upon the safety glasses, front and rear wind screens and side glasses of all vehicles throughout the country.

But it seems that for the North and Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad Adhyakash, Administration has made a different set of law.

Even after two months since the Directions issued by the Lt. Governor and the ruling of Supreme Court, the official SUV of the N & M Zilla Parishad Adhyaksh still have dark glasses. However from naked eye it is hard to make out whether the glasses are quoted with dark film or the SUV has company made dark glasses.

To get the answer Andaman Sheekha team called the Adhyaksh of N & M Zilla Parishad twice at 08:07 PM but he did not take the call.
When approached a staff of Transport Department confirmed that the vehicle actually has dark films but as the vehicle is a red light vehicle, everybody is afraid to take any action.

When Contacted the Superintendent of N & M Andaman assured quick action in this issue.

“I will get it checked. We will definitely take action if black film is found on the glasses of his vehicle,” Mr. R K Verma, the Superintendent of Police (N & M) told Andaman Sheekha today.

M/ Andaman Correspondent
Billyground, July 06: The APWD has recently re-started works of constructing a RCC bridge in place of the wooden Swadesh Nagar Bridge. As the work is taking time, presently the wooden bridge is being used for movement of vehicles including passenger buses.

Residents of Middle Andaman fear that movement of passenger buses on the wooden bridge may result in disaster anytime, which may kill dozens of people.

As there is no check, passenger buses continue to cross the bridge with excess number passengers. Often school children hang dangerously with the doors and windows of the busses, while buses cross the bridge.

“The Police Department must immediately stop overloaded buses from crossing the bridge as this may risk lives of all passengers,” said a villager of Billyground.

N & M correspondent
Billyground, July 05: Troubled by the bad road stretch from Pinaki Nagar to Kamlapur, the villagers of these areas have now threatened to block roads in Billyground, if the road is not repaired within 15 days.

The villagers, mostly students allege that the road is in a very bad shape and totally unsafe for people, even in day time. According to villagers the said road has hundreds of potholes, which have become as large as moon craters. In rainy days the craters look like mini pond on the road surface, giving terrible time to the road users. At night the road becomes deadly dangerous for public.

“We have raised this issue with concerned authorities of North & Middle Andaman and also approached the Gramsabha several times but it seems our voice have fallen into deaf ears,” an angry resident of Pinaki Nagar told Andaman Sheekha today.

A month back when our correspondent met the Up- Adhayksh of N&M Andaman asking about the progress in ordering repair works on the said road the Up- Adhayksh told Andaman Sheekha that tender has already been floated and the work has already been awarded.

But unfortunately till today the repair works has not began, giving virtually nightmares to the road users.

Fuming villagers have served a representation, signed by 109 villagers, to the Lt. Governor of A & N Islands and requested him to order immediate repair work of the said road or the villagers will be bound to block road at Billyground in protest.

DJ Venkatesh

Diglipur, July 04: The District Commissioner of North & Middle Andaman, Mr. Sanjay Kumar today visited the flood affected areas of Diglipur alongwith the Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur, Dr. Vivek Kumar, Zilla Parishad Adyaksh (N&M), Mr. P Prashad and with Pradhan of Madhupur, D.V Gram, R.K Gram, Keralapuram etc villages.

After visiting the flood affected areas of Diglipur, the DC inspected the site for construction of proposed Permanent Relief Camp at hilly areas of Madhupur and RK gram.

During his visit public of Subhash Gram urged the District commissioner to construct a drain in Subhash Gram Bazar and Arial Bay and also demanded for the upgradation of schools.