Flood Returns to haunt remote Islanders

D J Venkatesh

Diglipur, June 29: For the second time in a month the Diglipur Island today witnessed flooding due to heavy rain, since yesterday night. According to reports four villages of Diglipur Island suffered the maximum burnt of flooding since early this morning, forcing hundreds of people to leave their house and take shelters in hilly places.

“Four villages viz. Bidya Sagar Palli, R K Gram, Desh Bandhu Gram and Subahsh Gram were hit by heavy rainfall. I have already directed the Assistant Commissioner to set up relief camps in those villages and provide food to the victims,” Mr. N K Sharma, the Deputy Commissioner (in-charge) of N & M Andaman told ‘Andaman Sheekha’ today.

According to Mr. Sharma heavy rain together with high tide in sea resulted in flood like situation in Diglipur region. “Now the water level has receded. Thank God, since 9.00 am raining has stopped but even if it rains again, we are fully prepared. The situation is under control,” Mr. Sharma added.

Earlier, On June 17 similar flooding was reported in North and Middle Andaman Islands of A & N Chain.

“As it was raining since yesterday night, early this morning we witnessed flood in our village. Many people saved others by using their own dinghies. Nearly 100 vehicles, two wheelers and four wheelers were completely under water. Water flooded more than 200 houses in this area,” said a villager of Diglipur.

It was reported that many villagers lost their cattle and livestock in today flood.

Villagers confirm that Police team of Diglipur rescued several families from ‘Magar Nallah’ area of Diglipur and brought them to safe places. However, till now no report of any casualty of injury has been reported from Diglipur Island.

Later in the evening the Deputy Commissioner of N & M Andaman, Mr. N K Sharma told Andaman Sheekha that people in relief camps of RK Gram and Subhash Gram returned home by afternoon but nearly 25 families are still in relief camps of each Desh Bandhu Gram and BS Palli.

“No doubt clouds are still there but water has receded. We are providing food for people living in relief camps. I have passed orders to conduct detailed survey to assess damages suffered by the villagers due to the flood, the report will be submitted to me within two days,” Mr. Sharma added.

Port Blair, June 28: Mr. SSN Mohd Ibrahim, AE, APWD, Swadesh Nagar, an accused of Cement Smuggling case of Pinakinagar is absconding from these Islands, police department said today.

Andaman and Nicobar Police have already arrested two persons in this high profile case. According to reports available here till now the police department has arrested Mr. Gafoor, the JE of Basantipur and Mr. Sanjit Kumar Biswas, a contractor of Pinakinagar region. Sources have confirmed that there are possibilities that soon the Police Department may also arrest the Assistant Engineer of the Area in this case.

“We will arrest the Assistant Engineer of the region very soon but he is absconding and we are looking for him,” Mr. R K Verma, the Superintendent of Police of North and Middle Andaman told ‘Andaman Sheekha’ today.

N & M Andaman

Billyground, June 28: Raising question over the role of Police Department and two media persons of two different local newspapers, the Communist Party of India (M) today demanded thorough inquiry in the cement smuggling case of Middle Andaman.

Addressing a public meeting Mr. Tapan Bepari, a senior CPI(M) leader today said that despite of the fact that the contract was awarded in the name of a political leader-cum-contractor, he was not arrested by police.

“The Police Department must dig deeper into the case and only then more high profile names will surface,” Mr. Bepari added.

During the meeting Mr. Pratul Bepari, CPI(M)’s state committee member and Secretary of CPI(M)’s local unit alleged that two journalists of two local newspapers had tried strike a deal with the wrong doers in the case, to earn easy money. “This is the reason why the news was not published on the next day’s edition of their newspaper,” Pratul Bepari alleged.

Billyground, June 27: The Pradhan of Harinagar Gram Panchayat has expressed his gratitude towards the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration for directing the Deputy Commissioner, N & M Andaman to furnish report regarding the damage occurred during recently flood in North and Middle Andaman.

“Following his direction on 25th June, 2012 the Tehsilder, Mayabunder met the Pradhans of three Panchayats at Harinagar and also directs in the concerned authorities / in-charge i.e. Revenue Dept., Agriculture Dept., Fisherish Department and Veterinary Dept. to furnish the report of the actual damage,” the Pradhan added.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, June 24: The Kharif campaign, organized by ATMA successfully concluded at Diglipur with the programme at Shibpur and Laxmipur on 21/6/2012 and Subashgram on 22.06.12. The Pradhan Mr. Nilu Mazumdar at Shibpur, Smti Meena Mondal at Laxmipur and PRI member at Subashgram inaugurated the programme. While inaugurating they encouraged and appealed the farmers to attain maximum benefit from the programme.
Earlier, Smti Shakila Nawaz, A.O. welcomed the gathering and briefed about the motto of Kharif campaign. She explained in details about the System of Rice Intensification in paddy, method of preparation of Mat nursery. Smt. R.Bhu Bharthy, A.A explained the method of seed & seedling treatment in paddy and also urged for the varietal replacement with High Yielding Varieties. Mr. Hari Ram, A A has delivered lecture on land preparation technique and. Mr. Sachin Sarkar at Laxmipur has spoken about IPM and INM measures. Smt. S.Manju A,A has highlighted about the schemes of High Value Agriculture, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna and Plan Schemes.
Organic farming and method of vermicomposting were covered by Mr. Prashanth, A.A. During interaction, farmers raised the issue for low price of rice against which the department has urged the use of improved farm machineries like Paddy transplanter, Paddy Harvester, Paddy Thresher which are available with the department specially at Diglipur, through which better quality of rice could be produced. The Pradhan Shibpur has requested to conduct more demonstrations on SRI method in all the villages of Shibpur Panchayat. Literatures on related topics were also distributed among the participants in all the villages.
Participants included both men and women farmers and farmer friends. The campaign was successfully conducted with the involvement of concern AFA and BTM (ATMA), Diglipur.

DJ Venkatesh

Diglipur, June 24: The Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration visited Radha Nagar panchayat on 22nd June. On his arrival he visited PHC Radha Nagar and inspected the hospital. The Panchayat Samiti member, Smti. Kalpana Bain complained about the frequent power cuts at Radha Nagar and poor BSNL connectivity and shortage of Doctors and other staffs.

Later, the CS also visited Mud-Volcano site of Diglipur. He was accompanied with the Pradhan Uttam Kumar Saha, DFO Dr. Dinesh Kannan, and Ranger Mr. Ajit V. John and other senior officials.
On completion of mud volcano visit, the CS met with the Pradhan Uttam Kumar Saha at Panchayat Bhawan at Radha nagar and discussed various Local problems During the discussion the Chief Secretary reportedly agreed to construct a road from Hati Level Village to Mud Volcano site and directed the AC to look into the matter.

The CS also assured to look into the matter of slow BSNL connectively. The pradhan also demanded Hindi Medium School for the region.

N & M Correspondent
Billyground, June 24: The villagers and flood victims of Middle Andaman who wanted share their grief and sufferings with new Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration, got deeply disappointed with the recent visit of the Chief Secretary, Mr. Anand Prakash to North and Middle Andaman.

Since, Friday the Chief Secretary is visiting North and Middle Andaman region.

“We have been told that the Chief Secretary is visiting flood affected regions of Middle Andaman. Villagers in large number were standing at Basantipur Panchayat Bhavan but the Chief Secretary did not even stop his vehicle there,” Pradhan of Basantipur, Mrs. Malati Bagchi told Andaman Sheekha today.

The Chief Secretary reached Billyground area at around 2.30 pm. It was informed to public that the Chief Secretary will stay for some times at Panchayat Bhavan where again large number of people were waiting to meet the CS but they could not meet.

However, the Pradhan of Harinagar, Mr. Hirenmoy Roy and some villagers could managed to meet the Chief Secretary at Billyground Fisheries office, where a letter containing grievance of public of the region, was submitted.

Later, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Mr. Anand Prakash visited Gram Panchayat Shivapuram in Middle Andaman. He was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner, N&M Andaman, DFO, Middle Andaman, AC, Mayabunder, Pramukh, Tehsildar, Rangat, EE, PRIs, CMO, Mayabunder, EE, Electricity & other officials. The Pradhan, Mr. Arshed Waseem along with PRI members & local officials apprised him of various problems of the village. The Chief Secretary is said to have assured of looking into the problems related to Gram Panchayat Shivapuram, a communication from the Shivapuram Gram Panchayat office said here today.