DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Aug 30: Even as the North and Middle Andaman region remains chief victim of poor telecom services, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, A & N Circle appears to be in no mood to embark on remedial measures to improve services. Erratic BSNL services dominate headlines of local newspapers at regular intervals; but the service provider still exhibits failure in restoring reliable telecom services in the region. Deliberate snapping of OFC cables by miscreants continue unabated in the region and subscribers reel under telecom blackout for days tougher.
According to reports, any fault in the OFC cable network leads to total shutdown of telecom services including mobile services, Data, Broadband, WLL and Landline services. The breakdown of OFC cables has become a regular phenomenon on every Friday and Saturday and telecom services are restored after not less than 4 days.
Though the thick OFC cables cannot be hacked using ordinary equipments, the deliberate snapping of cables by miscreants exposes the inefficiency of agencies like Police and Forest Departments in curbing the menace. Even the presence of Intelligence Bureau, CID and Defence personnel in the region has proved futile as they have miserably failed to track the criminals.
How long will the residents of the North and Middle Andaman region endure with poor telecom services, questions a resident of Billyground. “Lakhs of rupees of the government is lost as functioning of government establishments, Banks, Schools etc is affected due to the problems. Commercial activities including tourism relative business have been trading losses as they depend largely on BSNL services. Breakdown of BSNL services also affects other sectors like Electricity, emergency services like medical and fire services. People are forced to suffer long hour power-cuts due to the situation,” the resident said.
“The administration should explore other possibilities to resolve the telecom crisis in the region. For instance, services of local Cable TV operators should be roped for repairs of telecom OFC cables. Cable TVs operate on the same type of fiber cable technology and the services are available right from Baratang to Diglipur. If the telecom cables are linked to the cable TV, the local operators with a massive workforce can fix faults in no time,” says a Rangat resident.
Intervention of the Lt. Governor is urgently required to ensure secure and reliable telecom services in the North and Middle Andaman region. Areas vulnerable to frequent damages to OFC cables should be identified and frequent inspections should be conducted. Moreover, the Police patrols should be increased and miscreants responsible for the damages should be taken to task. Urgent action is also required in view of the strategic location of Diglipur, located just 62 kms from China-occupied Coco Island as it poses a serious security risk.
LG Inspects facilities at the Medical College
Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Aug 27: The Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd) today inspected the facilities at the Medical College before its opening.
In a twitter message today, the Lt. Governor expressed satisfaction after the visit, he said that the team has Done better than his expectations.
“Have asked them to organise visit of parents & citizens also,” he added.
In yet another twitter message he said that the permanent structures and complex of both Andaman College & Medical college, both overlooking the sea, will become pride of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, once completed.
Crocodile sighted at Baratang twice
Ganeshan
Baratang, Aug 26: Crocodiles have been sighted at Baratang today in two different occasions close to the Baratang Jetty. However, it is still not clear whether it was same crocodile, which was spotted twice today.
According to reports some Fiber boat operators spotted the crocodile at around 12.00 noon for the first time between Middle Strait and Baratang Jetty.
Again a crocodile was sighted on the other side of Baratang Jetty, close to Khadi Basti area of Baratang at around 5.30 pm, which triggered unrest among the residents of Khadi Basti.
Split in BJP, TDP alliance after disagreement over Panchayat seats
Port Blair, Aug 25: Just weeks before 2015 Panchayat and Municipal Elections, Andaman’s major alliances between the BJP-TDP broke up over differences in seat sharing.
According to reports available here the final decision on break up in the alliance was taken last night after there was total disagreement over allocation of Panchayat Seats at Shore Point, Macca Pahad and Medical Pahad area of South Andaman.
Insiders told Andaman Sheekha that the alliance was profitable for both the sides as large number of Telugu people reside in Andamans.
The BJP had already agreed to allocate five seats out of total 24 of Port Blair Municipal Elections to TDP but disagreement over Panchayat Seats the top leaders of both the parties in Andaman decided to contest the coming elections of their own.
In last Panchayat Elections out of total 18 seats TDP had won one, their maiden, seat from Ward Number 6. “We will contest under our own party banner from all the 24 wards of PBMC and from some Panchayats,” Mr. Aziz-Ul-Rehman the lone councillor of TDS told Andaman Sheekha today
Death of New Born Babies; NHRC seeks action report from Health Department
Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, August 24: The National Human Right Commission has sought action taken report from the Directorate of Health Services in the matter of increase in number of death of new born babies at G B Pant Hospital, during the months November 2014 to April 2015.
As per information gathered through Right to Information Act by an RTI Activist, Mr Sunder Selvam, nearly 32 new born babies and 3 maternal deaths were registered during the above mentioned period, which has been taken very seriously by the NHRC following which the NHRC has sought action taken report without four weeks from the date of receipt of NHRC letter.
Water crisis grips Diglipur in North Andaman Residents blame impromptu APWD for the disorder
DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Aug 23: Even as Diglipur is home to the large perennial water source in the North and Middle Andaman district, Kalpong river, impromptu Andaman Public Works Department has forced residents of the region to cope with water crisis this rainy season. Water supply timings have been reduced to 15-20 minutes from the earlier scheduled one hour recently and unsystematic supply timings is causing countless miseries to residents of Diglipur and adjoining areas, according to sources.
According to reports, the APWD Division draws water from Navin Nagar area under Diglipur Panchayat and pumped to Treatment Plants in area. But the Treatment plant has been suffering from shortage of storage tanks for the last 40-50 years. Moreover, the water is pumped through a single pipeline installed at Kalpong river. As the river changes its course of flow, sediment deposits are cleared using excavators without valid permission. The Apex Court rules that excavators should not be used at river beds. But the practice has been continuing unabated for the last 10 years.
The suction pipelines are located about 200 mtrs away from the pumping station whereas a stable river site located 100 mtrs from the pumping station from where water can be drawn easily has not been considered worth utilisation by the authorities for unknown reason. Moreover, use of GI pipes, MS Pipes, sheets and asbestos by the APWD for changing the course of the river flow is having an adverse effect on the nearby landed properties. According to sources, landslides have been reported at several places near the site and the main road at RG Gram has developed cracks at several locations.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Executive Engineer of APWD regarding the progress of the Khudirampur Dam project, the official refused to part with any information. While the Khudimpur project for drinking water and irrigation is yet to take off due to environment clearances from the concerned agencies, the Andaman Public Works Department should formulate a constructive plan to address the water supply issues in Diglipur region.
Spike in newborn deaths at GB Pant Hospital : 32 still births recorded in six months, insiders cite ‘coordination glitches’ as reason
Sarthark Kanjilal & Sunder Selvam
Port Blair, Aug 21: The recent surge in newborn and maternal deaths has set the alarm bells ringing for the island’s lone referral hospital, GB Pant Hospital. Information culled out under the Right to Information Act reveals that the hospital registered 32 still births and 3 maternal deaths in six months (from Nov 2014 to April 2015). While there have been widespread accusations of medical negligence behind the deaths, insiders attribute to coordination glitches between the newly appointed doctors for the Medical College and paramedical staff as sole reason for the disturbing trend.
According to the RTI document, 32 newborns died during the delivery process during the period from Nov 2014 to April 2015. Three expecting mothers, Smt Aruna Bachar, Smt R Rajeshwari and Smt D Homakshi, also died during treatment for medical complications like IUFD with placenta preview with cardio-respiratory failure, Septicemia Multi-organ Dysfunction syndrome and Eclampsia with PPH with DIC.
“Negligence by doctors and paramedical staff is on a record high and islanders are gradually losing their trust in the GB Pant Hospital. Poor standard healthcare services has become the hallmark of the Labour Ward of the hospital. Much was expected of superior health services after new doctors were appointed for the Medical College in these islands. Instead, things turned worst. The RTI revelation should serve as an alarm for the Health Department. Anomalies that still exist in the GB Pant Hospital should be set right and all-out efforts should be made to ensure best healthcare services for the islanders,” said some residents of Aberdeen Bazar.
When cross checked by Andaman Sheekha team, a senior official of the GB Pant Hospital, who didn’t want his name to be quoted, admitted that lack of coordination between the newly recruited doctors and paramedical staff was the core reason for the sudden surge in newborn and maternal deaths in GB Pant Hospital. “The issue has been dealt with seriously and things have now significantly improved. Islanders can now expect better services at the premier hospital,” the official added.
Fake TA Bills Scam hits Police Department; Inquiry ordered
Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Aug 20: Police Department is responsible for maintaining law and order in society and also for checking crimes but what if Police Personnel become part of the problem?
It has been learnt that after scrutiny of claim submitted by police personnel for Transfer TA Bills, the Police Head Quarter has found that some Police Personnel have submitted fake cargo bills for transportation of their goods through clearing and forwarding agents.
When Andaman Sheekha questioned a senior officer of Andaman and Nicobar Police today he refused to comment anything on the record.
However sources have confirmed that an inquiry has already been ordered in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Department has directed all the units not to accept any bill of cargo from some clearing and forwarding agents in city till completion of the enquiry to avoid misuse of government money.
Struggle and Scuffle for LPG Cylinder continue at Mayabunder area
Muralidharan Pillai
Mayabunder, Aug 19: It seems getting a LPG Cylinders has become the most difficult task in Mayabunder region.
In several occasions in past, Andaman Sheekha and Channel One News have reported about poor LPG Cylinder distribution system in Mayabunder region but it seems that no action has been taken by CCS or Civil Supplies Department yet to manage the LPG crisis in Mayabunder region.
Today also the same struggle and scuffle could be seen at Mayabunder region where since 6.00 AM in the morning people with empty LPG cylinders were driving from one village to another to get hold of LPG distribution truck.
Those who found the truck made a long beeline behind the truck but wherever the truck stopped for distribution there were fight among people.
While people in the beeline were trying their best to get LPG cylinder first, people of villages were protesting against giving cylinders to outsiders.
Many could not manage a LPG cylinder even after a struggle for nearly 10 hours.
Public of Mayabunder allege that LPG cylinder could hardly reach Mayabunder as people of villages between Billyground to Mayabunder region, stop the trucks in their villages forcefully and take away all the cylinders, leaving nothing for people of Mayabunder area.
This seems that the LPG distribution system of Mayabunder region has totally collapsed and hence the CCS and Civil Supplies department must pay special attention to Mayabunder region to give some relief to the villagers.
Croc attack on beaches is not acceptable: LG
Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Aug 18: Expressing deep concern over recent incidents of crocodile attacks, the Lt. Governor today said crocodile attack on beaches is not acceptable.
It is worth mentioning here that on November 4, 2014, the Lt. Governor of the Islands had ordered immediate steps for ensuring the safety of visitors at the beaches including the issue of threats from crocodiles at all public beaches frequented by tourists.
“One of the interim measures to be implemented will be plying of motor boats in and around these beaches so as to ward off crocodiles venturing into the areas,” Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lt. Gen (Retd.) A K Singh had said in his direction.
The Forest Department was directed to look into long term measures, such as putting up safety wire nets, during the meetings.
This is now clear that no such precautionary steps have been taken by Forest Department yet, to save local public and tourists from crocodile attacks at prominent beaches.
When this matter was pointed out by Andaman Sheekha, the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lt. Gen (Retd.) A K Singh today said the PCCF must act promptly on instruction issued and croc attack on beaches is not acceptable.
On 15 August a Home Guard Jawan was attacked by crocodile at Tourist favourite Wandoor beach of South Andaman while on 17 August a Jarawa man was attacked by Crocodile inside Jarawa Reserve Forest. Thankfully in both the cases the victims survived the attack.
In past several such incidents of Crocodile attack has been reported from various other tourist favourite beaches of A & N Islands, one of the victims was a tourist from New Jersey, Lauren Failla, who was killed by a saltwater crocodile while snorkeling in Neil Cove beach of Havelock Island in April 2010.
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