Senthil Kumar

Rangat, Nov 30: Prone to cyclones and floods, a cluster of villages in Rangat, Middle Andaman continues to bear with administrative lethargy over persistent demand for construction of a common community shelter. A significant population in Sabari, Sitapur and Dashrathpur villages under Tehsil Rangat become homeless during monsoons as rainwater inundate their homes, destroy crops, kills livestock.

The demand for construction of a community hall (to serve as relief camp) surfaced some years ago and administrative clearances at almost all levels were obtained in the year 2009. Sadly, the partially constructed structure has been left to rot by a private agency. Sources claim public unrest is gradually brewing and a massive agitation is becoming imminent in the region.

According to sources, the Zilla Parishad sanctioned the project for construction of a community hall at Sabari village as an estimated cost of Rs 2.26 lakh in the month of March 2009. Tenders were floated and the lowest bidder was awarded the project with a deadline of 8 months for completion. Advance payments were also reportedly released to the contractor. However despite a lapse of over five years, the construction of the community hall has not been completed and the unfinished structure comprising only iron rods has been left to rust by the private agency.

“The contractor is no more interested to carry on the work. But the Zilla Parishad has initiated no action against the contractor for violating the provisions of the work contract. Agitated villagers approached the Zilla Parishad umpteen times with the request to urge the contractor to complete the construction without any further delay.

However, their pleas fell on deaf ears and the Zilla Parishad appears to be in connivance with the contractor. Furious villagers are planning an agitation to press for their demands and a letter has been sent to the Lt. Governor in this regard,” said some fuming villagers urging Andaman Sheekha to highlight the issue in the media.

 

 

Port Blair, Nov 26: The Tri Services Special Forces camp is under progress is Andamans since 17 Nov 14. Commandos from the Army, Navy and Air Force are participating in the camp. On 26 Nov 14, 15 Commandos from all the three services took part in Combat Free Fall at Port Blair, wherein they were Para dropped by C-130 Aircraft from a height of 8000ft. This is the first such Free Fall jump conducted at Port Blair.

The presence of mind, ability to take quick decisions and thoroughness of the drills by the commandos are the key to success of such operations. The presence of mind was demonstrated live by a paratrooper at 3500 ft today wherein he had to release his main parachute which was opening and opened the reserve.

The aim of conducting such exercises is to practice quick insertion of highly trained commandos from air into the required area and assure populace of the military capabilities to handle any eventuality in swift and efficient manner.

Senthil Kumar

Rangat, Oct 14: Andaman Sheekha on 14^th October Issue had reported about lack of Mosquito nets in all the wards of CHC Rangat, following Andaman Sheekha report the Hospital Authority has placed new Mosquito nets in every ward from today. This action of Hospital Authority has brought great relief to patients, who were troubled by mosquito menace inside Hospital Campus.

 

Senthil Kumar

Rangat, Oct 13: Mosquitoes in Community Health Centre of Ragat has made lives of patients miserable. Patients who are already suffering from various diseases are getting additional doze of trouble due to mosquito bites and sleepless nights.

The menace of Mosquitoes can be felt in almost all the wards of CHC Ragat viz, Children, Male, Female and Maternity Ward 24 X 7.

People are so scared of mosquito bites in the hospital that many refuse to get admitted in hospital.

When Andaman Sheekha reporter contacted Dr. Joy, Chief Medical Officer and Administrative Officer of the CHC, Rangat and asked him about the issue he said that till now nobody has informed him about this problem so he is unaware about the problem.

Sources told Andaman Sheekha that sufficient mosquito nets are available with the CHC Rangat but those were not issued for reasons unknown.

“Why can’t the authority provide mosquito net in every bed. Those who want will use it. The answer of CMO that nobody has informed him about mosquito menace makes no sense,” said an angry patient.

Port Blair, October 13:The public hearing by the Lt Governor at Raj Niwas will be held from 11.30 am on 15^th October 2014. (Wednesday)

 

Port Blair, Oct 8: The Cyclonic storm ‘Hud Hud’ crossed Andaman Nicobar Islands this evening and is reported to be moving towards Andhra & Odisha Coast. Meanwhile, all the machineries of the A&N Administration responded well to tackle the impact of the cyclone ‘Hud Hud’ in these islands. Widespread dissemination of cyclone warning was done to ensure that no casualty occurs from South Andaman, Middle and North Andaman, the Districts which were on high alert due to the cyclone storm.

Due to the impact of the cyclonic storm, heavy rain & squally wind experienced in South Andaman areas since early morning on Oct 8. Water logging was reported in certain low lying areas such as Mohanpura Market Area, Corbyn’s Cove, Prothrapur, Dhanikari, Manglutan. However, there were no major concerns in these areas.

As a precautionary measure, people from low lying areas of Radha Nagar, Shyam Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Corbyn’s Cove area and Tapu Basti were shifted to safe shelters temporarily.

Cases of land sliding along with uprooting of trees observed at few locations. Road near Murugan Temple damaged due to land sliding while another road was blocked near Rose Valley.  Restoration work is under progress at both these places. Another case of land sliding was reported from Chunabhatta, Bambooflat.

Six fishermen of Jollybouy and three fishermen of Havelock have been rescued. Eight fishermen in two Dinghies from Dignabad area were also located with the help of Coast Guard Helo. Foreshore ferry services which were suspended have been restored. Situation has normalized and no loss of life or injury to person has been reported.

Situation in the District of North & Middle Andaman especially in Long Island has normalized from where the cyclonic storm crossed. The NDRF team was pressed into service as a precautionary measure and the team reached Rangat at 4 AM on October 8. Squally wind conditions felt elsewhere in the District resulting in uprooting of trees in few locations. A minor damage to property was also reported. Around 120 persons residing in low lying areas were shifted to safe shelters. No damages to property and loss of life or injury were reported so far from N&M District. In Diglipur Tehsil, two katcha houses were affected due to landslide. DCs have been directed to conduct damage assessment and disbursement of relief/financial assistance as per norms, in a time bound manner, the report added.

Full length of Andaman Trunk Road has been cleared of fallen trees and earth on the road due to sliding at many places. All roads in South Andaman have been cleared of blockages except the road at Tirur.

Meanwhile, under the influence of system, rainfall at many places with heavy and very heavy rainfall at isolated places would occur during the next 12 hours.  Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting upto 70 kmph would prevail in and around the islands for the next 12 hours.

Sea condition will be high during the next 24 hours and fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along and off the coast during next 24 hours.

Close watch is still being maintained and the SEOC and EOCs continue to be on alert.

 

 

Port Blair, September 05, 2014: For the academic session 2014-15, thirteen MBBS seats in four states in the mainland have been allocated under the Central Pool Quota to the eligible students of Andaman & Nicobar. In a communication issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi, it has been stated that, for dental courses, two BDS seats have been allocated under the quota.
Medical colleges at Kottayam and Kozhikode in Kerala, BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur and KG Medical College in Lucknow, UP and Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi have reserved one MBBS seat each while Medical College in Alapuzha in Kerala, North Bengal Medical College in Darjeeling, BS Medical College in Bankura and Burdwan Medical College, Burdwan in West Bengal would allot two seats each.
For BDS, the Government Dental College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra and KG Dental College, Lucknow have reserved one seat each for the students of the Islands. (PIB)

Port Blair, July 21: The Member of Parliament of A&N Parliamentary Constituency, Mr. B.P. Ray has raised the issue PMGSY works before the Speaker in the Lok Sabha on July 16, 2014. He further informed to the Speaker that during the NDA Govt. Mr. Atal Behari Bajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India had provided Rs.20 crores for construction of 18 roads in the rural area under PMGSY. In the year 2009, the Secretary (PWD) and the Deptt. of Andaman Public Works Deptt. (APWD) were declared nodal officers and nodal deptt. respectively to complete the PMGSY works. During last 10 years 6 works were found completed and 6 works are under progress. The remaining 6 works have been dropped.

In the year of 2013, the Lt Governor has directed the Department of PWD to submit the comprehensive proposal to the Ministry for approval. But no action so far has been taken the matter.

In order to streamline and to accelerate the scheme of PMGSY works for the benefit of the villagers of rural area, the MP has further requested the govt. to release sufficient fund and also issue appropriate direction for under taking all back log works of PMGSY pending since last 10 years, a communication from the MP’s Office said here today.

 

Puducherry, July 20: A PowerPoint presentation on the State Planning Board was made to Lt. Gen (Retd) A.K. Singh,  Lt. Governor of Puducherry, by the Development Commissioner here yesterday at Raj Niwas. The Director (Planning & Research Department) and Budget Officer were present in the meeting.

Later, PowerPoint presentations were made about the activities of Departments of Higher Education, School Education and Health & Family Welfare Services.  The Secretary to Govt. (Education & Health), Director of Higher & Technical Education, Director of School Education and Director of Health were present in the meeting.

Later in the evening, the Lt. Governor visited the following sites of ongoing PWD projects; Sewage Treatment Plant at Dubrayapet, Puducherry; Construction of Railway Over Bridge at East Coast 100 Ft. Road and Construction of Over Head Tank at Arumbarthapuram, Villianur.