DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Mar 15: Saline water supply through APWD pipeline network has become a cause of concern for more than 8000 villagers of different hamlets in Diglipur Sub Division. According to reports, the areas affected are Madhupur, Laxmipur and DB Gram Panchayats where potable water contaminated by sea water is being supplied for the last few days.
According to reports, the source of drinking water supplied to these villages by APWD pipelines is a storage tank located at Moris Tikrey. Water is pumped from a Ring Well constructed by APWD near Madhai Murshid house to the tank from where the potable water is supplied to various houses in the villages.
Water from some running sources supplied through Bhasadek village have also receded in the recent days, according to reports.
“To the shock of several villagers, salty water was found pouring from taps installed in their homes for the last few days. The water supplied by APWD pipelines is absolutely unfit for consumption and may cause diseases. The APWD should take immediate steps to address the concern,” said some villagers of Madhupur.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, the Pradhan of Laxmipur Gram Panchayat informed that the APWD Junior Engineer of the area said that high tide in the sea nearby may be the reason behind contamination of the ground water resources.
“The JE has suggested people to refrain from using the polluted water for few days and that APWD is take prompt remedial measures,” the Pradhan added.

Ganeshan & Francis Ekka
Baratang, Mar 14: A forest worker of Baratang Range today narrowly escaped death as he survived an elephant attack miraculously.
According to reports, the Forest Worker, Dhiren Bepari, S/o Sapan Bepari, was sitting on the road side after forest works this morning, when suddenly the black Elephant, Yash, came from nowhere and started chasing him.
When Dhiren tried to run, Yash Elephant caught him but he could not cause much injuries to Dhiren, as Dhiren was trapped between both the tusks of the Elephant. The Elephant dragged him for sometimes and when other Mahouts called him, the Elephant dropped Dhiren on the ground and left the place. Later Dhiren realized that his left leg sustained multiple fractures.
The Forest Worker was immediately taken to PHC Baratang from where he was reffered to G B Pant Hospital.

Kayenat Islam
Port Blair, 09th March 2016: The public of Port Blair have many complaints against the Community Halls in their areas. The constant complaints include the cleanliness of halls, dirty utensils, shortage of chairs and unavailability of drinking water as well.
The Community Halls are cheaper than hotels and private function halls , so it is convenient for all the classes of people to afford it but the problem with these Community Halls is that the facilities they provide are not up to the mark. Often lengthy procedure to book these halls makes things further difficult for public.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted Mr. Jawahar, the Secretary of PBMC regarding the Community Hall issue, he said that during his field inspection the issues that he came across were the shortages of chairs, utensils and apart from this they did not come across any other issues.
“This may be probably because we didn’t go there when a function is happening because that is the time when people gather there and they feel the lack of facilities,” the Secretary added.

Mr. Jawahar said that he has taken a note of these problems now and will work out something to solve these issues.
The secretary assured that the PBMC will come out with a solution, which will be convenient for public, as soon as possible.
He even said that PBMC is planning to come out with a Press Note, through which PBMC will make the public aware about the basic facilities that will be provided by the Community Hall and the things that one should arrange of their own because at such a cheap rate it is not possible to provide hotel like facilities.
The Secretary also gave an indication that there might be a little hike in the rate of Community Halls but of course better service will be assured.

Trinath
Mayabunder, Feb 19: A STS bus, full of college students and teachers today met with an accident at Pema Tikry area near Tugapur, Mayabunder.
According to reports the accident took place at around 8.25 am when the Bus was going towards Mahatma Gandhi Government college with nearly 60 students and some staffs.
As per report the Bus started from Rangat at 6.20 AM for college trip but when the bus reached near Pema Tikry the Driver of the Bus Mr. Rasheed felt, something is wrong with the bus but before he could react the Steering of the Bus got jammed and the Bus went out of control. Luckily the bus came to a halt after hitting a road side mound, after going off the road.
It is learnt that the driver and a few students suffered minor injuries. The students were later shifted to school in other vehicles. A case has been registered in this regard by police, it is learnt.

Ganesh
Baratang, Feb 12: As if harsh punishment under the PAT regulation was not enough, fishermen of Baratang region are now put up with a new trouble. According to reports, fishers of the area are now being frequently attacked by the members of the Jarawa primitive tribes who even snatch their catch and dinghies in the process.
Baratang Island lies along the periphery of the Jarawa reserve belt and fishermen of the area often land up fishing in the waters close to buffer zone.
“In the recent days, Jarawa men deliberately quarrel with us while we fish in the inland waters. They abuse us, snatch fishing items, fish catch and even boats from us. They have even shot at us with bows and arrows at times.
It has been difficult for the fishermen of the area to sustain their livelihood activity as more than five fishing boats have already been confiscated by the Jarawas till date.
“The tribals, who enjoy immunity from law, have suddenly started acting violently with us. We’re helpless as the authorities have taken no steps to redress our concerns,” said some fishermen speaking to Andaman Sheekha.
According to reports, a group of Baratang fishermen recently met the Zilla Parishad member of Baratang, Mr Algar Swamy and requested him to take up the concerns with the concerned authorities in the District Administration for an early redressal.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Mr. Algar Swami has requested the Administration to make sure that the fishermen of the area, who are not violating PAT regulation in any way, are not attacked by Jarawa Tribes.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, February 12: The unemployed CDC holders of the islands will be staging protest against Shipping Department for not fulfilling their long pending demands since last 15 years.
As per reports, nearly 250-300 unemployed CDC holders have already given a one week notice to the Shipping Department about their agitation against the department proposed to be held at Tiranga Park from 17th February.
The two major demands of the unemployed CDC holders are Seniority wise enrolment of unemployed CDC holders in Administration Company as Roster and engaging the local crew in the Andaman Administration owned vessels like MV Nicobar, MV Akbar and MV Harshavardhana.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, an unemployed CDC Holder Mr R Sanjay Kumar said that they are fighting with the administration since last 15 years pertaining to resolve these pending demands and for filling up the huge vacant posts as per administration company Roster in all three sectors i.e Mainland, Interisland and Foreshore.
The unemployed CDC holders had recently addressed their grievance to the Prime Minister Office on 26 June 2015 and immediately the grievances were forwarded to the Administration for taking necessary action for resolving the grievances but till now none of the grievances has been resolved by the Andaman Administration, the CDC holders alleged.
“When the administration is not taking the orders of the PM Office seriously then we are just a common man, except agitation we don’t have any other way by which administration can take up our issue,” said Mr Sanjay a local CDC holder.
Mr Sanjay further said that first one week all the local CDC holders will be agitating against the Andaman & Nicobar Administration and if even after that the administration does not resolve our issues then we all will go for a hunger strike.

Senthl Kumar
Port Blair, Feb 11: In just over four months of being elected in the local body elections, the Village Pradhan of Rangat in Middle Andaman is facing severe criticism for alleged abuse of powers. According to reports, the Pradhan of Rangat Gram Panchayat, Satish Kumar Singh, in violation of rules and regulations, has implemented a self-devised set of rules to impose various taxes on public. The move reportedly has facilitated embezzlement of public funds as lakhs of rupees is collected from people unlawfully.
Retail shop owners, transporter and villagers are worst affected as the Pradhan unilaterally hiked the taxes vide a circular issued as per the Panchayat act, 1994 published under Andaman and Nicobar Administration Panchayat Raj Rules and Regulations 37 (1) (b & h).
As per information, the sanitation tax was increased to Rs 300 per month for small shopkeepers and vegetable vendors, Rs 50-100 per month for wholesale traders and shop owners which was earlier uniformly fixed at Rs 10 per year.
Similarly, taxes have also been imposed on transport vehicles making brief halts at Rangat. Four wheelers are charged Rs 50/- per halt, six wheelers are charged Rs 100 and eight wheelers are charged Rs 200/-. Similarly, local private buses and Express Busses are charged Rs. 50 and mini local buses Rs. 30 per day. Small vehicle like Winger, Omni, Jeep and Auto drivers are charged Rs 10 per day.
“The Pradhan of Rangat has turned autocratic since coming to power last year. He has implemented his own set of rules and regulations causing immense hardships to people. Such random and unjustified hike of taxes has created rage in Rangat area. If anyone questions the credibility of the rules, the Panchayat people show the circular which is totally against the law. Many allege that the Pradhan and his associates are minting money in manoeuvring the Panchayat rules and regulations. Intervention of the top of the administration is immediately required to prevent innocent villagers from being fooled by the Pradhan and his accomplices,” say several agitated residents of Rangat.

Muralidharan Pillai & Pramod Toppo
Port Blair, Feb 10: The three day long District Planning Committee Meeting of North and Middle Andaman today ended at Mayabunder without any fruitful decision or observation.
The Member of Parliament of A & N Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, who was very upset because of absence of any senior officers in DPC meeting today left for Port Blair, without attending the third day meetings, as a mark of protest.
Almost all other members also boycotted the meeting it is learnt.
The first two days of the meeting also witnessed boycott as all members had demanded presence of Secretary level officers in the meeting.
However, because of the unified protest by members of all parties finally on the last day of DPC of North and Middle Andaman some officers reached Mayabunder but it was too late for them.
The Member of Parliament has however said that this matter will be taken up in New Delhi.
“The Deputy Commissioners from the very first day assured us that second day senior officers will attend the meeting but that did not happen. This is very disappointing that Administration does not have time for people of N & M Andaman,” Mr. Alagar Swami the Zilla Parishad Member of Congress from Baratang told Andaman Sheekha.
The Chairperson of N & M Andaman Zilla Parishad, Mrs. Prabhawati Biswas was also very disappointed about absence of Secretary level officers in DPC of N & M Andaman. “No Secretary wants to come out of Port Blair. If coming out of Port Blair is that difficult then the DPC meeting of North and Middle Andaman should have organised at Port Blair,” the Chairperson of N & M Andaman ZP told Andaman Sheekha.
The DPC meeting is very crucial for the planning of developmental works in North and Middle Andaman District and as per norm top officials must attend the meeting but in this meeting on the first two days even the HoD level officers were also missing.

Port Blair, Feb 07: Lt Gen. A K Singh, Lt. Governor held a high level meeting at Raj Niwas on Saturday, 06 Feb, 2016, to discuss the problem of encroachments on govt. land, which is continuing unabated.
He has ordered the constitution of a high level committee under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary (Revenue) to consider all aspects of the matter and come out with solutions which would include a plan of action to deal with this problem. The report of the Committee will be submitted to the Lt Governor by the 15th of March 2016.