Sanjib Kumar Roy & Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, May 01: The passenger ship MV Nancowry has made a new record of public suffering as it reached Port Blair from Chennai in 110 hours at the speed of 7 knots.
Surprisingly after Annual Passenger-ship Survey (APS) at Chennai this was MV Nancowry’s first sailing towards Port Blair. Technically after APS this ship should have been in best condition but sadly while sailing towards Andaman, both the main engines developed technical snags one by one.
According to highly placed sources after sailing one engine developed complications first and by the time the engine was opened and faults were rectified the other engine also developed some complications and this is the reason why the RPM/speed of the ship was reduced.
Sources told Andaman Sheekha that the ship reached Chennai for APS on 23rd February but the ship was sent to anchorage for nearly 10 days. Finally on 5th March the ship was allowed to port at Chennai port at 10.00 pm.
At Chennai port the APS was conducted till 22nd April and on 24th April the ship sailed for Port Blair from Chennai with passengers.
One wonders that when APS was conducted thoroughly and Certificate A was issued to the ship how both the main engines developed technical snags in mid-sea. Does this mean that the APS was not conducted properly? What will happen if tomorrow both the engines of the ship shut down in mid sea, with hundreds of passengers onboard?
Believe it or not after reaching Port Blair only fumigation of the ship was done that too only for few hours and no major repair of the engine was carried out. Most importantly tomorrow again the ship is sailing for Chennai with passengers? Now the question every public is asking whether travelling in this ship is safe?
When Andaman Sheekha called the Director of Shipping Services, Captain (IN) Rajinder Kumar to get answer of all these questions and get the matter cross checked he refused to answer public question saying “You people call anytime you want.”
If this remains the attitude of senior most officers of Shipping Services and if public issues are taken so lightly in such a way, one can understand how safe people of these Islands will be in passenger ships.
There are many other issues too. The Directorate of Shipping Services must answer that why the Ship was sent to Chennai port when Chennai is not a recognized dockyard and as per rules for APS a ship should go on a recognised dockyard.
Sources allege that Chennai dockyard is even not a Marine Mercantile Department approved certified workshop and there is lack of skilled labour and tools in the Chennai dockyard as per sources. But sadly there is no one in Shipping Department to clarify these issues and answer to questions raised by public and asked by media.
The Lt. Governor had recently directed all departments to answer to media queries for the sake of transparency and public information but it seems some departments are also taking Lt. Governor’s directive too lightly.
The Million Dollar question is how media will report on crucial issues like this when Administration does not respond to media questions and run away from crucial questions.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Apr 29: Heavy thunders followed by lightening, which occurred yesterday at Subhashgram , Ward No.4 damaged electrical equipments of several houses.
House hold items like Fridge Washing Machine, Television and also all electrical wirings of Mr. Nani Gopal Das and nearby houses have been totally damaged.
About 15 Arica nut trees also suffered the burnt. Luckily no one was at home at the time of lightening. Electricity Department officials visited the affected houses today morning and asked to rectify the damaged wirings so that power connections can been given to them once again.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Apr 28: Crew members of Andaman’s passenger ship M V Chowra, today refused to sail the ship after embarkation of 285 passengers onboard, demanding immediate payment of their pending salaries.

Crew members alleged that the SCI hasn’t paid their salary since last three months and demanded immediate release of salary.

According to details, due to dispute between the management and ship crew members, nearly 285 passengers were made to suffer for nearly four long hours.

As per report this is not the first time when the Crew members did so, earlier on July 15 2014, crew members of the same ship refused to sail alleging pathetic condition of ship and demanding some urgent repairs.

As per shipping schedule, the ship was scheduled to sail for Campbell Bay via all ports in South from Haddo Wharf of Port Blair at 8.00 AM.

According to sources, as per the directions of the Chief Officer of the ship the CISF started the embarkation process at 6am and by 7:50am the CISF completed the process. By 08:00 am the MMD surveyor also completed the survey and the pilot was onboard at 08:30 am but just before sailing crew members started their protest.
When the CISF got the information of the protest the Sub-Inspector of CISF, Mr Raveendran immediately informed the Directorate of Shipping Services and after that immediately the Assistant Director of Shipping Services, Mr Anand Paul Singh and Deputy Director, Mr Sahadevan reached the spot to sort-out the protest. The senior officers of Shipping Services however somehow convinced the crew members and by 12.00 noon the ship sailed for Campbell Bay.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, April 26: Here is good news for the candidates, who are waiting for the recruitment process for the post of nurses in the Directorate of Health Services since a long time.
The Directorate of Health Services, Andaman & Nicobar Islands will soon start the recruitment process to fill up as many as 24 vacant posts of nurses.
As per the reports, there were nearly 18 vacant posts in the DHS and recently six posts got vacant in the department, therefore now the recruitment process will begin for 24 vacant posts of nurses.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, the Directorate of Health Services, Dr Shipra Paul recently said that the process to fill up the vacant posts of nurses will start within 2-3 weeks. She also added that the candidates those who have earlier applied for the 18 vacant posts, won’t have to apply again.
Earlier in 2014, during the recruitment for 18 vacant posts of nurses, there were allegations of question paper leakage and bad door entries, following which the recruitment of said posts were held up.

Staff Reporter
Port Blair, Apr 24: The Election Commission for the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in exercise of powers under rule 5 (3) of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Municipal) (Preparation of Electoral Rolls and Conduct of Elections) Rules, 1995, held a public draw of lots on Friday in the auditorium of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Auditorium, Pahargaon to allocate the seats reserved for women for the forthcoming General Elections to PBMC. The Election Commissioner for the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ms. Bhupinder Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, Mr VK Bidhuri, senior officials of the District Administration, representatives of political parties and members from the public were present on the occasion.
As per the results of the draw, of the total 24 Municipal constituencies, Ward nos. 9, 13, 6, 18, 22, 16, 11 and 4 have been designated as Wards reserved for women for the ensuing Municipal elections.

The Election Commissioner clarified that though only 8 wards are reserved for women, ladies are free to contest elections even from the General Wards. She further informed that revision of draft electoral roll will be done from May 1 2015 onwards, for a month. The Election Commission will try its level best to complete elections by September 23, 2015. Polling will be carried through Electronic Voting Machines, she said adding that for any query and grievances, the Director Panchayat & Municipal Elections can be contacted.
A good number of people including Ward Councilors and representatives of various political parties witnessed the draw of lots with their fingers crossed.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Apr 23: A defiant Junior Engineer of the Electricity Department continues to rob citizens of their sleep and peace of mind for unscheduled and extended power-cuts in Shadipur and RGT Road areas.
According to highly placed sources, the Junior Engineer of the Shadipur Site Office, was firmly instructed by the top brass of the department to exercise power-cuts after prior intimation to the public through the local media, recently.
But, on the pretext of cutting roadside trees, a sizeable population in Shadipur and RGT Road are in an unenviable situation due to frequent power outages.
“Even as power-cuts have become common in many parts of the city, Shadipur and RGT Road remains the worst affected. Unprecedented power outages, mostly exercised without intimation to public, has become the order of the day here. The region, which boasts of several government offices, schools and private institutions continue to reel under heavy blackouts since the last several weeks,” fumed some residents of RGT road.
The Junior Engineer of Shadipur Site Office runs a parallel administration, others believe.
Despite strict instructions from the top bosses, the official exercises power-cuts as per whims and fancies. Chopping of roadside trees is a common excuse given to public when asked for the reasons for the unscheduled power-cuts.
Last Saturday, Shadipur and RGT Road experienced blackouts for more than 6 hours at a stretch. On Sunday again there was unscheduled power cut for more than three hours and today again there was no power for more than two hours. Although there is a different JE for RGT road area but the line is usually cut from Shadipur region which leads to power cut in RGT road area.
Lt. Governor always talks about development of free entrepreneurship in these Islands but if such power cuts continue how can someone even dream of running a small business.
Such unscheduled and extended power-cuts has become a scourge for the residents here, said some others.

Staff Correspondent

Port Blair, Apt 21: The Andaman and Nicobar Island Private Truck and Van Driver’s Association (ANIPTVDA) will hold a peaceful demonstration at Tiranga Park on April 22, 2015 to seek an early resolution to the problems being faced by the transporters after the administration imposed a ban on transport vehicles carrying protruding articles.

ANIPTVDA has, however, called off the proposed Andaman Bandh and Indefinite Strike scheduled from Wednesday following assurances from the Director General of Police and the State Transport Authority that the matter will be looked into sympathetically and steps initiated to take up the matter with the Central Government for amendment of the law.

Earlier, a delegation of ANIPTVDA, on the appeal of the Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry met the Director General of Police and the State Transport Authority with their demands.

Following assurances from the authorities, the ANIPTVDA decided to call off the Andaman Bandh and Indefinite Strike from April 22, 2015. All trade associations will now continue normal operations on April 22. But, all affiliated associations of ANIPTVDA will not operate transport vehicles on April 22 as part of their protest.

Saket Lal
Port Blair, Apr 17: A major fire at Ambedkar colony of Port Blair city this afternoon gutted atleast eight small and medium houses.

The Ambedkar colony, which is a colony for sanitary workers of Port Blair Municipal Council, has too many unauthorized houses, build in a very congested area and eight among these structures were reduced to ashes this afternoon.

According to Fire Brigade sources the fire was reported at around 11.15 am following which atleast eight vehicles, including fire tenders and water bowsers reached the spot from Fire Service Headquarters, Marine, Haddo, Chatham, Garacharma etc Fire Stations.

Fire Tenders from Naval Ship Repairing Yard also seen joining hands.

Sources in Fire Services confirmed that altogether eight houses have been gutted in this fire accident however there is no report of any injuries.

“The reason of Fire is believed to be Short Circuit and as per our assessment there is a loss of property worth 8-9 lakhs,” Mr. M K Shukla, the Chief Fire Officer of A & N Fire Services told Andaman Sheekha today.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, April 15: It has been learnt that more than two dozen passengers from Hut Bay were not issued cabin tickets in MV Chowra, which said for Car Nicobar via Hut Bay on 14 April
According to reports, out these two dozen passengers travelling for Hut Bay in the aforesaid vessel only one passenger got the cabin ticket. Passengers of Hut Bay also allege that there were many cabins which were vacant, but still the staffs of Directorate of Shipping Services didn’t issue cabin tickets to them.
“I am a blood pressure patient and it is very difficult for me to travel in the bunk and I am sea sick as well, there are many cabins which were vacant then why they have denied us cabin tickets when we have approached the counter asking for a cabin tickets,” Questions a businessman of Hut Bay who doesn’t want his name to be quoted.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the Directorate of Shipping Services, Capt (IN) Rajinder Kumar said that there are daily ships for Hut Bay and for Car Nicobar the ships are twice in a week and thus in this case first preference is given to the passengers of Car Nicobar.

Port Blair, April 14:  Glowing tributes were paid to the architect and the Father of the Indian Constitution, Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, on his 124^th birth anniversary today. At a function held at the Statue of Dr. B R Ambedkar, near the entrance of Dr. B R Ambedkar auditorium here, the Lt. Governor, Lt. Gen. A K Singh (Retd.) paid floral tributes to Dr. Ambedkar as the chief guest of the function. Chief Secretary, Adhyaksha Zila Parishad (South Andaman), Chairperson (PBMC), Councillors of PBMC, eminent citizens and senior officers of the Administration also paid floral tributes to Dr. Ambedkar on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Lt. Governor said the birthday of the great personality, whose life is a good example for every individual to follow in the modern period, is a great day in the history of our country. He earnestly requested every individual to abreast themselves of Dr. Ambedkar’s works and contributions towards the country, so as to imbibe appropriate lessons.

The Lt. Governor said that Dr. Ambedkar was born at a time when India was under British rule and social evils such as castes discrimination and untouchability were prevalent in the Indian society. His hard work and dedication had helped him achieve his goal, braving lot of challenges, be it the problem in school or family financial matters, he said. He had always strived to encourage brotherhood and to end the old discrimination system from the society, as it has no place in Independent India, the Lt. Governor said.

Referring to the Indian Constitution, the Lt. Governor said that with the framing of the Constitution, we are proud of our Independent India, where there is no discrimination between the high and the low, the rich and the poor, as every individual is given equal opportunity. The only thing an individual has to do is to work hard with dedication to achieve his goals in life, he said quoting Vivekananda that “life is a series of struggle and we have to overcome it”, which he observed was also well applied in the life of Dr. Ambedkar.

The Lt. Governor said that these islands are the true representation of the Constitution of India, where people live together in peace and this feeling of oneness here needs to be preserved and spread across the country. It is a great challenge for all of us to preserve our society, where there is no discrimination and where the feeling of nationalism is high. I am proud of this great heritage”, the Lt. Governor said and attributed this to the forefathers, who came and settled here and had created such a wonderful environment. “On this occasion, I wish all the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and urge them to follow the teachings of Dr. Ambedkar so that India can rise to its destined glory”, the Lt. Governor said.

Highlighting the life and achievements of Dr. Ambedkar, the Deputy Commissioner South Andaman District, Shri Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said that this day reminds us of the contributions of the great personality. His foresightedness of a classless and casteless Indian society, had gifted us the Indian Constitution, that provides equal opportunity for all the citizen, he added.