Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Sept 11: After a series of deadly crocodile attacks in Tushnabad region, the Department of Environment and Forest has launched an intensive drive to capture the beast reptiles from South Andaman.
According to reports, the Forest Department has laid nets in atleast five locations at Tushnabad and Loha Barick area in the past few days and the forest officials claimed first success on Sunday.
According to information, Deputy Ranger of the Forest Department, Mr Manjit Singh led an operation in which a huge crocodile measuring 3.4 mtrs and weighing more than 200 kilos was captured on Sunday.
Since August, two precious lives have been lost in Tushnabad and Loha Barick due to crocodile attacks and the Forest Department has come under heavy criticism from the general public.
Meanwhile, the Up-Adhyaksh of Zilla Parishad, South Andaman, Mr Subir Chander has appreciated the efforts of the Forest Department in capturing the crocodiles from the infested regions in South Andaman.
“The Forest Department should continue the crocodile capture drive till all the crocodile in human habitat areas are not captured,” said a villager of the area.
Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, September 11: A 34 year old man namely Mr Kartik Das has reportedly slit throat of a woman namely Alpana Mondol at Bhathubasthi, near Sabji Market today at around 06:30pm. The woman died before reaching the G B Pant Hospital, it is learnt.
As per reports, the woman was having Pani Puri at a petty shop near Sabji Market, Bhathubasthi when the man suddenly slit the throat of the woman using a knife.
The public present on the spot went on a deep shock looking at the man attacking the woman at the public place and started thrashing the man, looking at the crowd the PCR present at Bhathubasthi immediately reached the spot and controlled the situation and took the attacked woman immediately to the GB Pant Hospital.
On information a team of Tylerabad Police immediately reached the spot and took the attacker into their custody.
According to sources, the attacker had given his land to Mr Sudhansu Mondol, husband of Alpana Mondol for staying there but according to the attacker from the day he has given the land to them, he is experiencing misfortune.
It is also learnt that the wife of the attacker committed suicide 3 years ago because of which he was also under total depression.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Sept 07: AMRI Hospital, Mukundapur, Kolkata, West Bengal, which was empanelled by Andaman and Nicobar Administration under ANISHI scheme has reportedly refused to issue discharge certificate to a one year old patient after treatment as the guardians of the patients are unable to pay excess cost of treatment.
As per grandfather of Master Vikash Kumar Rai, the one year old patient, who was suffering from suffering from suspected Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, got treatment from the said hospital.
Mr. Vaidhyanath Roy, the grandfather of the patients told Andaman Sheekha today that the total bill of the hospital is somewhere near Rs. 5. 35 lakhs. “While Rs. 5 lakhs is being paid by Administration under ANISHI Scheme, the hospital is demanding nearly Rs. 35,000 from us. We don’t have even enough money to buy daily food for us. It seems we are stranded here,” he said.
Through Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Vaidhyanath Roy requested the Administration and public of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to arrange some amount so that the child could be brought back to Port Blair after clearing all bills.
In past, former Lt. Governors have even sanctioned amount of Rs. 8 lakhs for needy patients from Lt. Governor’s Relief Fund. Hope the newly appointed Lt. Governor will come forward to help the one year old patient.

Readers who are willing to help may kindly call Mr. Vaidhyanath Roy directly @ 9679511507.

 

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Sept 01: Members of nearly 161 families of Sri Lankan Tamil Settlers have intensified their protest recently against Andaman and Nicobar Administration demanding a respectable package for their permanent settlement.
The Government of India under the rehabilitation package scheme under the Sasthri- Srimao Bandaranayaka pact of 1964 had settled 48 Sri Lankan Tamil families, in tribal Island, Katchal of Nicobar Groups, in the year 1974 and 1976 and given employment in daily wages in Andaman and Nicobar Plantation Rubber Board.
Over the years the Rubber Plantation became a loss making unit leaving these families, who are now total 161 in number, in total distress.
Moreover being a Tribal Island, for the third generation decedents of the Sri Lankan Tamil Settlers it has become impossible to carry out any kind of business or purchase a land for the secure future.
After 2004 Tsunami, life for these outsiders has become more difficult because of added restrictions over outsiders in the Tribal Island Katchal.
Demanding a permanent settlement package, like other groups of settlers have been given by the Government, these Sri Lankan Settlers had moved to court in 2010, after which the court had ordered the A & N Administration to prepare a proper settlement package for them.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Lawrence George Thomas, the Joint Secretary of Katchal Settlers’ Welfare Association alleged that the present package prepared by Administration offers them only a 200 sq mtr land with a tsunami shelter at Little Andaman Island.
“This is nothing compared to the package given earlier to other settler families. Moreover the land allotted for our package is in remote Little Andaman Island, that too, in a very interior place,” he added.
To express their anger member of all members of 161 families have organised a protest recently in Katchal Island recently. Similar rallies were organised in past also.

Port Blair, Aug 29: “Power and tourism are the two sectors with immense growth potential and are in my priority list for development in these Islands”, said the Lt Governor of A&N Islands, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi in his maiden interview in a private TV channel shortly after assuming the Office of the Lt Governor of UT. Outlining his focussed areas for development, he thanked the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi for giving him the opportunity to serve these Islands.

“There is immense scope of development and these Islands fair better from other parts of the country in terms of performance”, he said.

As regard tourism sector, the Lt. Governor said these Islands can be developed as most sought after tourism destinations. Maldives are much popular in terms of tourist destination in the world in comparison to Port Blair, which needs to be developed on a faster pace. For tourism to be developed, connectivity is essential.

The undersea cable project is at advanced stage while the air route and sea route connectivity is also essential for development of tourism in A&N Islands. “If we want to develop these Islands on the lines of Maldives, we will have to provide all these facilities”, he observed.

Turning to power, the Lt. Governor said power generation in A&N Islands, by diesel is costlier and also contributes to pollution. This has to be replaced by developing more solar energy/power. The vast coastline in these Islands also provides ample scope for developing wind energy.

“My priority will be to upgrade power generation by propagating solar and wind energy in these Islands”, he said and added that tourists visit these Islands from different countries to enjoy the pollution free atmosphere and clean & green environment existing here.

“If we stick to diesel generated power system, it will only contribute to pollution. Therefore, it will be my first priority to increase the power with concerted efforts on green energy”, he said.

On improving the mobile and internet connectivity, the Lt. Governor said much progress has been made towards improvement in the connectivity, and the same will continue in future. Once the undersea cable connecting Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar Islands becomes operational, the connectivity problems in these Islands will be solved forever.

On enhancing the revenue generation, he said we should not completely depend on Central Govt. for funds but should become self reliant by increasing our revenue, utilizing our resources in a planned manner.

Referring to the contributions of A&N Islands in the freedom struggle of the country, he said the supreme sacrifice made by the freedom fighters in the Cellular Jail is really an inspiration for the whole country. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Veer Savarkar are looked upon with reverence by the Islanders.

There are many points in the Cellular Jail which the tourists look with awe when they visit the historical monument. “Every tourist must visit Cellular Jail. Directions have been given to further improve the Sound & Light Show at the Cellular Jail.

The dialogue and impression of the Sound & Light Show is very good and this has to be modernized by using lazer technique. Development of the A&N Islands is the main area of focus while patriotism, which is the hallmark of these Islands, has to be maintained in the long run”, the LG observed.