Port Blair, Apr 21: The Police Department has imposed fine upon the organizers of a religious event at Lord Ayyanar Temple for littering in public place U/s 34 (5) of Police Act, 1861 against the President of the Ayyanar Temple Committee.

According to a press note issued by District Magistrate of South Andaman, it was noticed that permission for organizing of religious activity was granted to Lord Ayyanar Temple Committee situated at South Point. During the field visit it was noticed that huge quantity of disposable plastic glasses, plates etc. were littered alongside the main road leading from the temple upto the Marina Park area, which was causing public nuisance through accumulation of garbage in the place of immense tourist interest.

The Police Department has imposed fine upon the organizers for littering in public place U/s 34 (5) of Police Act, 1861 against the President of the Ayyanar Temple Committee.

Further the Police Department and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate who are the authority for issuing permission for procession, mike permission and also the authorities for maintenance of law and order has been directed that before issuing of permission now onwards, the organizers shall be liable to make arrangements for garbage collection and its disposal. The organizers shall also to deploy sufficient manpower to ensure that littering does not take place at the place of function and if garbage are not found to be disposed properly, the organizers shall be held responsible.

The general public are once again made aware that the government has banned the manufacturing of plastics of below 50 microns as thinner bags which currently pose a major threat to environment due to its non-disposability. Research has adequately established the public costs of plastic bag usage. They are environmentally unfriendly in the extreme, take hundreds of years to degrade, and fill up landfills. Plastic litter can also lead to clogged drains resulting in sanitation and sewage problems, and to soil degradation, which hampers trees growth. In addition, animals have been known to often ingest plastic bags while its indiscriminate disposal by incineration pollutes the air and releases toxic substances.

The general public are also requested to help and cooperate with the Administration for keeping the Islands neat and clean. It is also requested with the general public that without their cooperation the vision of “SWATCH BHARAT” cannot be achieved.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Apr 19: Two major jungle fires have been reported from two different panchayats of Diglipur today. The Fire Brigade, police and District Administration took various steps to prevent fire from spreading. The first jungle fire call was received by Fire Station Diglipur at 6.45 am today which was done by Pradhan Gandhinagar Gram Panchayat, Smti Golapi Das.
Responding to the Fire Call, the Fire tender dropped one SI, one Hawaldar and four constables at Aerial bay Jetty, from there they went to Gandhi Nagar by Dinghy along with a fire pump set. The fire personnel took about 6 hours to control the fire without letting it spread to the nearby houses.
The next jungle fire was reported from Laxmipur Gram Panchayat where the Pradhan Laxmipur called the PS Diglipur at 12:55 pm who in turn informed the Fire station. The fire personnel soon reached the spot.
As the jungle fire was heavily spreading excavator were also utilized to make the way for the Fire Tenders. The fire was controlled late in the evening. The staffs of Disaster Management, Revenue Department, Forest and police personnel were on the spot and Asst Commissioner Diglipur supervised the entire fire control operation.

Port Blair, April 18: Noted theater/cinema artist Shri Naresh Chander Lall, who recently received Padma Shree award was today felicitated by the Hon’ble Lt Governor Lt Gen A K Singh (Retd), at Raj Niwas for his outstanding achievement. On the occasion, the Lt Governor also released a Tourism department brochure on ‘Andamans-Soul of Indian Freedom Movement’ to mark the celebration of World Heritage Day. The brochure titled ‘Heritage Circuit’ is an attempt to highlight and promote the heritage of the islands amongst the tourist & visitors.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor congratulated Padmashree Naresh Chander Lall for his outstanding achievement and making the people of the Islands feel proud. He said that the heritage of A&N Islands is very unique and different from other places, and many people have contributed to this over the years, starting with the Tribals, Pre-42 islanders and the settlers who have made the islands their homes over the years. All of us have to live in harmony to take the Islands forward.

He further said, there are two identities which are above all other identities. Firstly, the people of the Islands are proud Indians and secondly they all belong to the A&N Islands. The past of the Islands is a saga of sacrifice, selflessness and contribution to the National cause and we have to move forward using this rich past as our base and great heritage.

Referring to the issues raised by Padmashree Naresh Chander Lall, the Lt Governor directed the Secretary (Art & Culture) to work out a mechanism for single window clearance for film shooting in the Islands. He further said that art & culture in the islands will get a good boost with the setting up of Kala Kendra and publishing of a quarterly magazine on various issues & topics related to the Islands.

Sharing his views, Padmashree Naresh Chander Lall expressed his gratitude that his work has been recognized and he was conferred with the high civilian award of the country, which he said is a matter of great pride and honour. He also urged the Department of Art & Culture for making the Islands a film shooting destination. This can be possible by way of infrastructure development and introducing single window system for granting film shooting permissions. He also urged for documentation of art works done by former and present artists of the Islands.

Earlier, welcoming the chief guest and others, the Secretary (Tourism, Art & Culture), Smt Ankita Mishra Bundela said that every year April 18 is celebrated as World Heritage Day. The objective for celebrating the day is to remind the people of our extra ordinary heritage.

The function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Director (Art & Culture), Shri Dev Das. Chief Secretary, Adhyaksha, ZP (SA), Smt Rupa Ray and senior officers of the Administration and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.

sheekha Bureau

Port Blair, Apr 15: The Aam Admy Party and Bharatiya Janta Party today lashed out at the Administration for not being able to provide tickets for boats or helicopters for stranded teachers and LGC trade test candidates of Nicobar district.
Because of shortage of ships the DSS could not provide vessels for Campbell Bay and Kamorta Islands from where dozens and dozens of transferred teachers and candidates of LGC trade tests were planning to reach Port Blair by 15 April. The Administration had earlier decided to conduct the trade test of LGC between 15 to 17 April and the Education Department has issued orders for all teachers to join the new place of posting before 21 April but due to lack of ships these people are now stranded at Kamorta and Campbell Bay Islands.
“Before issuing orders of immediate joining in new place of posting the Administration must think whether there are sufficient boats for teachers to reach Port Blair from Nicobar Group of Islands? LGC candidates also suffered horribly because absence of boat from remote Islands of Nicobar District,” said Mr. Sanjay Meshak of Aam Aadmy Party.
Requesting immediate action in this regard, the newly elected State Vice President of BJP, Mr. Sanjay Singh said that the Administration must extend the joining time of teachers posted in Nicobar Group of Islands.
“People can’t reach Port Blair by swimming,” he said.

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, April 11: The Bhartiya Janta Party is constantly following up the matter of construction of Chatham-Bambooflat Bridge with the Ministry. Addressing a press conference at the Megapode Nest Hotel this afternoon at 01:30 pm, the state president of Bhartiya Janta Party, Mr Vishal Jolly said that whenever he is visits Delhi he always visits the NHIDCL office and enquire about the status of the Chatham-Bambooflat Bridge.
“Ministry is ready to give fund for the construction of Chatham- Bambooflat Bridge but there is a need of some support from the administration,” Mr Jolly said.
He said that for the construction of Chatham- Bambooflat Bridge at present the talks are on with the Defense and the party is working on the matter very seriously.
Further addressing the media Mr Jolly said that party is totally against encroachment. He said that encroachment in the island is an epidemic disease.
“Just because land was not allotted to the people when it was required this problem have come up, but it is our duty to provide roof to everyone,” Mr Jolly said.
He said that the people who had encroached the land before 1993 should not be removed but the party is totally against fresh encroachments.
Later he said that party will also pressurize the administration for providing water and electric connections to the people staying in encroachment land, which was used to be provided in the period of NDA Government but due to some or the other reasons this has been stopped in the Andaman.
Mr Jolly further said excess Land Regularization is one of the major issues in the islands and the party will fight for it.
Earlier the BPL people used to get nearly 35 kgs of rice but after the implementation of Food Security Act it has been now decreased to 4 kgs per person which is a concern and the party will try to find out a way.
Mr Jolly further added that the party is also trying hard to amend the Andaman Nicobar land regulation Act and will leave no stones unturned to provide the people the ownership of their land.
Earlier the newly formed committee of BJP held a state executive meeting.
During the meeting party discussed about the various schemes of Central Government and planned various ways of creating awareness among the people about the National Programmes and schemes.
Mr Vishal also said that before 20th April the party will form the District Committees, let it be Mahila Morcha, Yuva Morcha, Kisan Morcha or Mondal Committee.