Trinath
Port Blair, May 11: Inordinate delay in execution of a crucial construction project in North Andaman has exposed the residents of Basantipur to grave risk of floods and landslides during the monsoon reason. According to reports, the construction of RCC Counter Fort Retaining Wall from Govindapur bridge towards Badamnallah Dera was awarded to a private construction agency to protect the Andaman Trunk Road from slithering during rains between 218 km to 219 km by NACD, Mayabunder.
But due to the unfinished work and dumping of construction materials at the site has triggered fear of deluge and mud slides during rains. While the contractor passes on the blame to the revenue department for the delay, villagers of the area dread huge loss of property and lives due to floods and avalanches due to the blockage of the nallah.
According to the contractor of the project, the delay has been caused due to non-cooperation of the revenue department for providing necessary clearance for earth excavation works. “Huge quantity of earth is required to complete the work. But the revenue department has unlawfully restricted excavation due to which the work is being delayed. Construction materials and earth has already been dumped at the work site and requirement of more earth has already been placed before the revenue department, which is deliberately delaying the clearance. In case the revenue department continues its approach of non-cooperation, I will be forced to abandon the work halfway,” alleges the contractor.
“Due to the tussle between the contractor and the revenue department, the villagers here will suffer great losses if floods occur during the monsoon season. Huge quantity of construction materials and earth dumped at the site has blocked the entire nallah and during rains, floods and landslides are sure wreak havoc in the villages here causing severe loss to property and lives. Villagers will lose their homes if such catastrophe strikes during the rainy season. PRIs and villagers of the region are pleaded with the authorities to resolve the deadlock to ensure timely completion of the work to prevent any major calamity in the region,” several fuming villagers.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Tehsilder of the area, he said that the permission for fill earth from the extracted lot has already been given.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of North and Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad has also visited the site yesterday and spoke to the concerned officials from the site, who reportedly assured her to take requested steps as early as possible.

Ferheen Ali

Port Blair, may 10: The Bars in the Old Pahargaon area and the Habitual drinkers have increased the worries of the families residing in the areas.
The community including children and elderly are forced to hear filthy languages of the drunkards almost everyday.
Public of the area allege that drunkards creating a scene on the road is an everyday affair for the residents and they cannot lead a peaceful life.
Raising the issue, the residents wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary stating their situation. In the said letter, the residents informed that the presence of two bars, situated few metres away from each other, is the reason of their headaches.
Every evening drunkards from these Bars come out in open and use abusive languages on the road, which even children have to hear. They also reportedly damage vehicles, which are parked on the road.
Stating an incident of last Friday, they told that a drunkard who was creating a scene on the road was handed over to the PCR. But the culprit escaped from the PCR van.
The residents have urged the Chief Secretary to look into the matter and to appoint police in civil dress to watch the actions of these bar-flies and take strict actions against them. The Old Pahargaon and Dollygunj area have several Bars, which has now become an eyesore for people living around the area.
They also pleaded for closure of all Bars in the area, if not, the timing should atleast be restricted to 9:30 pm.
A group of Old Pahargaon villagers reportedly met the SP, South Andaman yesterday and demanded a legal action against those who are creating nuisance in the area under influence of liquor. It has been learnt that since this evening some police jawans have been placed in duty in the area.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, May 9: Uncovered openings in sewers along the roads in Diglipur have posed a threat to pedestrians days ahead of the rainy season.

According to reports, the Diglipur APWD Division employed a contractor to drill cover slabs on sewage drains using Excavators around 15 days ago to clear clog ups.

But the contractor reportedly left the work midway after creating manholes at least 20 places measuring 30x30cms with 12 mm iron rod protruding out of the holes. Sources claim that a child fell into one of the holes recently but escaped with minor injuries.

“Till recently, all the sewers in Diglipur were properly covered with RCC slabs. But for slapdash approach of the APWD to clear blockages in the drainage network, the residents of Diglipur now face a serious threat of accidents after the contractor dumped the work midway.

A local business man, Mr Srinivasan recently arranged bitumen drums and covered some of the open drains. But majority of the open spaces particularly in areas near Andaman Tamizhar Sangam where special summer classes are underway, has emerged as a major threat for the pedestrians.

“As the pavement is of the same height as the road, during rainy season with overflowing drains, it will become difficult to identify the pavement. With no other choice than to walk on the pavement with open spaces, pedestrians face a grave risk of sustaining injuries after falling into the pits. Such open drains expose the lackadaisical approach of the authorities towards maintaining public facilities,” alleges the Secretary of Tamizhar Sangham, Mr KV Rai.

“Not a single official from the APWD, Subhashgram Panchayat or the District Administration visited the spot despite repeated pleas to ensure covered sewers in the region. During heavy rains, the entire sewage network in Diglipur will be inundated with water making the pavement risky for pedestrians. The APWD must act immediately to prevent an untoward accident during the monsoon season,” said some shopkeepers.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, May 08: In yet another incident of vehicles jumping off the road, a Maruti Zen car, bearing registration number: AN01 C 6682 today skidded off the Diglipur road and came to an halt only after hitting a government quarter, situated much below the road level.
The incident took place at Subhash Gram this evening at 7.00 PM and according to the report the driver of the car, Meena Halder, lost control over the car while negotiating with a turn. Luckily no one was injured in this accident.

Diglipur, May 04: In a big respite for inhabitants of a remote hamlet in North Andaman ahead of the monsoon season, the Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur, Mr AK Trivedi inaugurated a wooden bridge over Kalighat creek at Nischintapur on recently.
The construction of the bridge was completed in a record period of two months under the MNREGA scheme. Constructed by the Gram Panchayat, Kalighat, the bridge generated about 839 mandays and expenditure of about 3.98 lakh was incurred for the 63 mtr long bridge.
The Divisional Forest Officer, Diglipur, Mr Ajay Kumar, Pramukh, Panchayat Samity, ZP Member, Kalighat, Pradhan, Kalighat and a huge gathering of villagers attended the inaugural function.
Nischintapur village has a population of about 250 and villagers used to commute through a wooden bridge over Kalighat creek. But heavy rains coupled with stormy winds led to the collapse of the bridge every year and villagers were forced to use dinghies to commute through the creek infested with huge salt water crocodiles. The villagers of Nischintapur had staged an indefinite hunger strike at Kalighat in recent past, which prompted the authorities to jump into action for construction of the wooden-bridge.

Alok Mandal & Ferheen Ali
Port Blair, Apr 28: The main X-Ray machine of G.B. Pant hospital is out of order since nearly last 10 days, which has left patients high and dry.
According to reports, the main X-Ray machine of G B Pant Hospital is out of order for some reasons and all patients, including the in and out patients, are being asked to get X-Ray done from Room No. 55 of OPD block.
One can find long queue infront of Room No. 55 everyday. Because of heavy pressure on Room No. 55’s X-Ray machine now every patient have to wait for nearly one hour outside the said room to get their X-Ray done and another hours to get the report from another room. Often by the time they get the report they miss the appointment with the doctor.
Adding to the plight the X-Ray machine inside Room No. 55 is also malfunctioning and staffs of the said room can be seen banging the machines 10 to 15 times to get each X-Ray done.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Medical Superintendent, Dr. S P Verma about the condition of machine, he informed that a letter has been sent for the repairing of the said X- Ray machine and it will soon get fixed.
He also added that there is X-Ray machines in the TB ward, and if needed patients can be sent there for X- Ray. On being asked about the bad condition of the running machine, he said that as the workload has been increased, the present machine must be showing some problems but he has assured to look into the matter and try to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, April 27: With barely few days left for the summer vacations to commence, the fear of being left stranded looms large for teachers and non-teaching staff of several schools across these islands. According to reports, agencies like the Transport and Shipping Department made no special arrangements to operate additional buses and boats to ferry teachers and other staff from their places of posting from May 1 and limited number of transport services has triggered panic among the staff of being left stranded for days.
Taking a commendable step, the Lt. Governor of these islands had declared the Summer Vacation for the year 2016 in the month of December last year for all Government, Private, Aided and Unaided Schools of A & N Islands in a single spell from May 1 to June 29.
But despite the prior announcement, not a single additional STS bus service has been announced to ferry teachers and other from their places of posting on May 1. Recent road mishaps involving private bus operators have added to the woes of the teachers ahead of the vacations as bus tickets have already been sold out in advance. Even the Directorate of Shipping Services is yet to announce additional voyages by passenger ships for the benefit of the teachers from different parts of these islands. Mostly importantly looking at the shortage of vessels in shipping services any such announcement is also unlikely.
“Notwithstanding the fact that the Lt. Governor declared the summer vacations well in advance, the failure of the transport agencies have left teachers and other school staff dejected. Many of whom have purchased tickets to visit mainland early in the month of May now dread of being left stranded at their respective places of postings due to the shortage of transport services. Neither the Transport Department nor the Shipping Services announced additional services for the benefit of teachers. The Shipping Department should immediately announce a couple of trips by bigger passenger vessels from places like Diglipur, Mayabunder, Hut Bay, Car Nicobar and Campbell Bay so that teachers and non-teaching staff are not left stranded. The Transport Department should also operate additional buses from different parts of the North and Middle Andaman region,” said some teachers speaking to Andaman Sheekha.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Apr 26: Thanks to the callous habit of some Islanders, stray cattle are falling serious ill after  eating plastic and other garbage, thrown on the road.
In yet another incident a bull was found unconscious on the road this morning.
Looking at the condition of the cattle, a Group of youths, who call themselves as Future Foundation, immediately contacted the Veterinary Department. Soon due to dedicated efforts of the staffs of AH&VS the bull gain conscious and was found fit.
While the efforts of the youths of Future Foundation is laudable, there is a need to condemn the habit of public to throw plastic bags on road, which often leaves stray cattle sick.
However, residents of the area blame the PBMC for this as the PBMC has failed to provide even a garbage bin for the entire Old Pahargaon area, even after repeated request of local residents.

Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Apr 25: This summer, these Islands witnessed mega conferences and rallies by different groups, mainly demanding job reservations, which has triggered an online debate in social media.
First there was a mega conference by Pre-42 community followed by a conference of Mopla Community and now there was a huge rally at Diglipur by Settlers’ Offspring Welfare Organization (SOWO).
While in many states maximum Job Reservation for native is not a new thing, in Andaman such demands always face criticism from people of other communities, who are often supported by top officials, who fails to connect themselves with the problems of Locals and Settlers of these Islands.
It seems that such reservation demands did not go down well with the Lt. Governor himself, who clearly said that people should preserve their culture heritage but not at the expense of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He was referring to the conferences organized by Pre-42 and Mopla communities. He said that being proud Indian and Andamani must be two prominent Identities of all Islanders.
For Administration such growing pressure from different groups could be a massive challenge in near future as together with Pre-42, Mopla and SOWO there are many other organizations like IPF, BANI, Ranchi Association etc which are mainly demanding job reservation as per their own formula.
Influx of population and grabbing of jobs by Mainlanders are always a major threat for Islanders, who have virtually no connection with rest of India. On the other hand such job reservation demands by locals are a threat for the candidates of general category.
Andaman is always known Mini India and every time such demands are raised, it widens the gap between different groups of people. After each such conference, other groups respond with similar or bigger conference or rally to demonstrate their might.
Here the Million dollar question is that who will prepare the perfect job reservation formula for Andamans, which will be accepted by all other groups? Perhaps the most important question is whether such job reservation struggle will destroy, the basic fabric of these Islands?

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, April 24: With dried up water sources in different parts of North Andaman, Diglipur may face the worst ever water crisis before the onset on monsoon this year. According to reports, water levels at various sources depleted recently after which APWD imposed harsh supply restrictions leaving residents with just 15-30 minutes of water supply on alternate days, while supply has been completely cut off in areas like Sitanagar, Bhasadeck etc.
Areas like Lamia Bay to Aerial Bay having no shortage of water due to a natural water spring at Lamia bay which supplies water during summer season also. The water can be seen flowing continuously but administration or APWD did not take any steps to utilize this water and serve in Diglipur area.
The natural spring at Nabagram, Kalighat also caters to water requirements in areas like Ramnagar, Nabagram and Kalighat.
Similarly, the Diglipur bazaar depends on Kalpong river for water and the depleting water levels has left a population of over 13,000 high and dry. Hotels, Restaurants and other commercial establishments have reportedly decided to shut down operations on Sunday due to the water scarcity. Even agricultural activities have been hit as water level in various ponds desiccated with rising mercury levels.
According to reports, the APWD has been supplying potable water from Navin Nagar for the past four decades and a pump house has been set up which draws water from Kalpong river and pumped to treatment plants at Subhashgram. The water is then relayed to other Water Storages.
But power failure sometimes leads to disruption in water collection and distribution and the APWD has till date failed to find a permanent solution to the problem. About 8 portable Pumping Engines has been installed at the Station, but with low water levels at Kalpong, the APWD is finding it extremely difficult to provide adequate supply in Diglipur area.
“After the Dam was constructed at Kalpong, the water dramatically dries up in the summer seasons. Over the years, APWD has failed to find a solution to the issue. The foundation stone for Khudirampur Dam was laid by the Lt. Governor during February 2015 as a permanent solution to water crisis in Diglipur area.
But for pending environment clearances and other issues, the project is yet to kick off. Monsoon rains are expected to arrive in these islands from May to June and it remains to be seen whether the APWD and the Administration can ward off a drought like situation in Diglipur,” said some residents of Diglipur.