Gracy Tripathy & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Feb 21: The MV Kalighat returned to Andaman after nearly two year long repair and maintenance works, carried out at Cochin but to the utter dismay of passengers the AC unit of the ship is still not effective at all, causing huge inconvenience to public.
Passengers complain that due to ineffective cooling inside many cabins and bunks, passengers suffocate and they have to travel with such discomfort for the entire journey to Nicobar District.
“The window panels have also been sealed completely and it is impossible for pubic to open the round windows even to breath fresh air. It’s like travelling like cattle in suffocating gas chamber,” complained a passenger.
This is sad that even after such long repair and maintenance works the ship is unable to provide comfortable journey for passengers.
“How the MMD is allowing the ship to sail even without checking whether ACs are effective in all cabins and bunks? How passengers will travel in such ship? The Secretary Shipping, Director of Shipping Services and the MMD must travel in one such cabin and bunk, in which AC is not working till Nicobar, to understand the problems of public,” said another passenger.
When contacted a senior officer of Shipping Services told Andaman Sheekha that the Department has not received any such complaint from public yet. “If we receive any such complaint we will take steps to rectify it,” he said.
Meanwhile, people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are requesting the Administration to set up a mechanism to check whether repair and maintenance works carried out by SCI are upto the mark, before pressing the ship in service. “Such negligence might cause a tragic accident in high sea in coming days,” warned an Islander.

 

Gracy Tripathy & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Feb 18: As the news of President of India visiting Great Nicobar Islands has been made public, there has been a great sense of enthusiasm among the residents of Great Nicobar about the visit of Mr. Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India.
However, according to highly placed sources no official confirmation has been received about the visit of President to Great Nicobar yet.
Sources told Andaman Sheekha that a good number of Government Servants have already been sent to Great Nicobar for making necessary arrangements and on 19th of February MV Coral Queen will sail for Great Nicobar from Port Blair, via Car Nicobar with more government staffs and security personnel for VVIP visit duty.
Meanwhile a senior official of Nicobar District Administration told Andaman Sheekha that people are Great Nicobar are overjoyed to know that the President is visiting Great Nicobar. “People are cooperating well with the Administration for making all necessary arrangements at Great Nicobar,” he added.
Now the million dollar question is whether the President will be visiting Great Nicobar as per schedule or the programme will get cancelled at the last moment.

 

Trinath
Billyground, Feb 17: The Superintendent of Police of North and Middle Andaman, Mr. Vichitra Veer, IPS, today said that the stringent action taken by the Director General of Police against drunken driving, traffic rule violations, drug peddling and all othesr illegal activities in South Andaman region has left a tremendous positive impact on the youths of North and Middle Andaman.

Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Vichitra Veer said that he hopes that if in this way public extends their cooperation with police, the N & M Andaman will be able to set a new record in least number of crimes in the District.

He added that the police team of N & M Andaman has to zero tolerance against drunken driving, bootlegging, drug peddling and all other illegal activities.

The SP said that during the pandemic time the public of North and Middle Andaman, extended their best cooperation to maintain law and order situation in the district.

He added that during the tough hours of pandemic, the law abiding people of the district made things easier for the Police Department by extending their full cooperation.

Mr. Vichitra Veer also lauded the efforts of all police personnel for discharging outstanding duties during the lockdown and pandemic time.

He told that the Police Department has continuously conducting various social awareness programs in Panchayats, schools and colleges. The police teams of NMA Organized number of programs amongst the youths to make them aware about Cyber Crime, drugs abuse, traffic awareness program etc.

The SP added that the Police Department is planning to conduct several sports events in the district for the youths to engage them in positive activities.

 

Trinath & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Feb 15: Today Middle Andaman region received heavy rainfall since 12.30 PM. Although the rain brought down the dust pollution level of Middle Andaman region and brought happiness for some farmers, the heavy rain however caused huge problems ATR commuters.
Many vehicles of ATR including buses and other small as well as heavy vehicles got stranded between Budda Nallah and Pathther Tikri area of Middle Andaman.
Because of rain the earthen road surface of under-construction ATR turned very slippery and it became very dangerous to drive. Contractors of NH4 told Andaman Sheekha that they are doing their level best to clear the road but it is still now sure how much time it will take to make ATR completely safe for vehicles.

Port Blair, Feb 12: Mr. Ajoy Bairagi, State President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands along with Mr. Vishal Jolly, Former State President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the leadership of Mr. Y Satya Kumar, National Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Prabhari of Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands met Mr. G Kishan Reddy, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Govt. of India at New Delhi today.

A healthy discussion was held between the visiting delegation of BJP and the Minister of State for Home Affairs. The main issue raised by the visiting delegation was regarding the resettlement of the Sri Lankan Tamil Settlers from Katchal Island to a non-tribal area.

Mr. Lawrence, Joint Secretary of Katchal Settlers Welfare Association also accompanied the visiting delegation to meet the Minister of State for Home Affairs. The Minister assured the visiting delegation that the matter will be seriously taken up with the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and very soon the issue will be resolved.

Further the visiting delegation raised the issue of Stamp Duty and Circle Rates in Andaman and Nicobar Island, they also raised the long time pending demand of one time relaxation for unauthorised constructions in Port Blair Municipal Council region. The demand for regularisation of DRMs in Port Blair Municipal Council was also raised before the Minister.

The delegation also ensured to inform the Minister about the issue of farmers of Andaman and Nicobar Islands like unavailability of adequate Fertilisers, Pesticides and Seeds on time.

Filling up of all vacant posts in the departments of Andaman and Nicobar Administration was discussed with the Minister of State for Home Affairs.

The Minister gave a patient hearing to all the issues raised by the visiting delegation from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and assured that the issues will be taken up with Andaman and Nicobar Administration on priority.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Feb 10: Noted dancer and choreographer Mr. Terence Lewis is presently in Swaraj Dweep Island and undergoing a diving course of five days. It is learnt that Mr. Terence Lewis, one of the judges on India’s Best Dancer, reached Swaraj Dweep two days back. The noted dancer and choreographer have huge fan following in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As per residents of Havelock Mr. Lewis was seen roaming around in Swaraj Dweep freely.