Port Blair, Jun 04: It is a proud moment for the islands that Chittiboina Mageswari, a budding chess player and student of class IX, Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School Port Blair shined in the 5th UCA Open Rapid & Age Category Chess Tournament 2024 held on 2nd June 2024 in Bengaluru, Karnataka by finishing 6th in Under 14 category. She scored 4 points out of 7 Rounds and secured 6th position in the tournament. She was awarded a trophy and a certificate for this achievement.

Mayabunder, May 30: The planned mass dharna and road block in front of the Kalighat electricity site office has been postponed to June 10, 2024, from the earlier scheduled date of June 3, 2024. This decision was made in light of the Lok Sabha election results being declared on June 4, 2024.

The Deputy Commissioner of North & Middle Andaman was notified of the rescheduled protest by the Pradhan of Ramnagar Panchayat. The protest aims to address long-standing issues with the electricity supply in the Ramnagar jurisdiction, particularly the repeated line faults during the monsoon season which have not been resolved despite numerous requests to the Electricity Department in Diglipur.

On May 27, 2024, residents gathered in front of the Panchayat office after experiencing another line fault in Ward No. 5. The Junior Engineer (JE) from Kalighat initially reportedly refused to address the minor fault, leading the Panchayat representatives and residents to assist the lineman in fixing the issue, restoring power within 30 minutes.

However, the situation escalated when the JE and his superior officer reportedly lodged a verbal complaint alleging that they were forcefully detained by the public, which the residents vehemently deny. In response to these accusations and the unresolved electrical issues, the community initially planned a mass dharna for June 3, which has now been rescheduled to June 10 due to the impending election results.

Port Blair, May 30:In exercise of the power conferred under M.V. Act 1988 (Act No.59 of 1988) read with Administrations Notification No./2008/F.No.32-95/2008-TR dated 10th March, 2008, the District Magistrate, South Andaman District has notified for the information of all concerned that the counting process of the General Election for the 18thLok Sabha will be held on 4th June 2024 at JNRM Complex and for this purpose, the following diversion have been made for the smooth flow of vehicular traffic:
• Pickets/barricades will be placed at Sinclair Junction, South Point Circuit House Junction, Govt. Press, Machi Line, RK Mission and Girls School Junction at 0400 hrs till the end of the counting process.
• No vehicles shall be allowed to cross the above picket/barricade points except vehicles having necessary passes as issued by the DC (SA) Office to enter the Counting Centre area i.e. JNRM from 0400 hrs.
• Vehicles without passes shall be parked on both sides of the Mahavir Singh road upto Dharamsala crossing. Two wheelers on left side from Dharamsala Junction to Girls School Junction. Four wheeler can also be parked on right side of the above route and at the parking lot near Swimming pool and in front of velodrome.
• No vehicle to be parked in between Old Scout Hut to Girls School Traffic Point, a notification issued by ADM (SA) said.

Port Blair, May 29: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has proposed introduction of Insurance Policy for Visiting Tourists to minimize losses suffered by tourism stakeholders and tourists for cancellation of flights or ferries.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration, the Member of Parliament mentioned that recent incidents of cancellation of several flights between Port Blair and Kolkata as well as Chennai Sectors have highlighted the pressing need for a robust mechanism to protect both tourists and local tourism stakeholders from the significant losses and inconveniences caused by such events.

He pointed out that Andaman and Nicobar Islands are highly susceptible to natural disasters like cyclones, earthquakes, and heavy rainfall. These incidents often lead to tourists getting stranded, disrupted travel plans, and financial hardships for both visitors and local businesses.

Referring to an earlier letter on the same subject written by the Member of Parliament to the Chief Secretary last year, the Member of Parliament mentioned that tourists frequently face difficulties with altered shipping schedules, flight cancellations, room shortages, and adverse weather conditions, leading to missed flights and unexpected expenses. This not only causes distress to the visitors but also impacts the reputation of our tourism industry.

He added that local hotel owners and tour operators often bear the brunt of these disruptions, accommodating tourists at minimal profit or even for free. This compassionate gesture, while commendable, results in financial setbacks for them. Additionally, such situations tarnish the Andaman Tourism brand and affect the business of concerned tour operators.

To address these issues, he proposed the introduction of an insurance policy for tourists, in collaboration with private players. Such policies, available at a nominal cost (e.g., Rs. 100 or Rs. 200), could be offered to tourists upon their arrival.

“These insurance policies would cover unforeseen expenses arising from natural calamities, thereby safeguarding tourists, hotel owners, and tour operators from financial losses,” he added.

The Member of Parliament mentioned that implementing this policy would align Andaman and Nicobar Islands with many foreign countries, especially small island nations, that mandate travel insurance to protect visitors during natural disasters.

“This approach would not only provide peace of mind to tourists but also ensure the stability and resilience of our local tourism industry. By doing so, we can significantly enhance the safety and satisfaction of tourists while supporting the financial well-being of our local tourism operators,” he said.

 

Port Blair, May 27: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma requested the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration to allocate a few newly procured buses for left out remote Islands of Nicobar District.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration the Member of Parliament appreciated the Administration for the recent induction of 21 newly procured buses by Andaman and Nicobar Administration into service.
He said that this commendable initiative will undoubtedly enhance the public transportation system and significantly benefit the residents of our islands.
As per the details provided, as per his knowledge 4 new buses will be sent to Diglipur, 3 each in Mayabunder, Rangat, Baratang, Ferrargunj, and Port Blair, while Car Nicobar and Hutbay STS Units will each receive 1 bus.
“This strategic deployment is a positive step towards improving connectivity and accessibility across our region,” he said.
However, I would like to take this opportunity to urge the administration to consider the unique challenges faced by the residents of remote Islands Nicobar District. Given the geographical remoteness and the absence of alternative transportation facilities, the public in these areas is entirely dependent on State Transport Service (STS) buses for their daily commuting needs. The current allocation, while beneficial, may not fully meet the high demand and critical need for reliable transportation in these underserved regions.
In light of this, he requested the Chief Secretary to allocate a few new STS buses in the left out Tribal Islands of Nicobar District.
He mentioned that increasing the number of buses in these remote areas will not only address the transportation needs of the Islanders but also contribute to the overall socio-economic development by facilitating better access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for the Tribal People.