Staff Reporter
Port Blair, Apr 20: Minor Fire has been reported from the thick cable line laid between Office of the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman and the District Control Room on Friday evening. As soon as the fire call was received one Fire Tender of Fire Brigade reached the spot and controlled the fire

DJ Venkatesh
Baratang, Apr 18: Baratang is the most sought tourist destination after Havelock Island, in this Union Territory. About 40 four wheelers and 300 tourists flockBaratang every day to visit Limes Stone Caves, Mud Volcano and also Parrot Island. But sadly there is no one to take care of the comfort of these tourists at Baratang Island.
The drivers park their vehicle at parking areas and take a nap inside Passenger hall of ALHW. They occupy most of the seats and thus they deprive tourists even a seat inside the passenger hall.
They occupy mostly all the three sides of the hall, leaving hardly any space for passengers. Tourists are forced to stand outside the hall or sit rotationally at the centre of the hall. Often even dogs occupy some seats inside the passenger hall.
One Water cooler has been placed for passengers but unfortunately neither chilled nor normal water comes out from the water cooler, most of the time.
Making mockery of system, one signboard has been erected as Baratang, which says ‘Litter free zone’ but garbage is seen everywhere at Baratang.
This is high time for the Tourism Department to ensure that tourists get good treatment and best facilities in Andaman, which is key for the growth of Tourism in any place.

Port Blair, Apt 18:The Jadwet family hosted the First Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr. M.L. Kampani, for a dinner reception at Fortune Resort Bay Island on Thursday. Mr. Anand Prakash, Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, and members of the Jadwet family attended the reception. Mr. Kampani, who served as the Lt. Governor of these Islands from 1982 to 1985, is on a short visit to Port Blair along with his family.

— with Francis Neelam.

Mohammed Sajid

Port Blair, Apr 17: Tamanna Balachandran, age 10 years (as on 16th April, 2014) has become World’s Youngest Indian Girl Qualified & Certified as Scuba Diver by completing the Junior Open Water Diver Course at the age of 10 years and one day, duly certified & licensed by PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors – USA).

Tamanna, a fourth standard student of Vibgyor High International School at Goregaon in Mumbai went under rigorous training in Havelock Island (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) under the supervision of her Instructor & Mentor Mr. Prafful Chugh from Pool To Sea Scuba Explorers throughout the course.
After completing the swimming performance requirements and getting necessary training in ‘Confined Water’, Tamanna completed her Open Water Dives in the Sea at Havelock Island (A&N Islands) to fulfill the requisites by meeting all the performance standards as laid down by PADI.
In past, while Tamanna already did her ‘Bubble Maker’ program in Scuba Diving (permitted for children below 10 years of age) at the age of 8, she has also been winning medals in swimming and athletics for her school.
With this, Tamanna is said to have broke the record of Egypt’s Natasha Turner, who had become the youngest diver at the age of 10 years and three days. With this record, Tamanna has surpassed the record of Ella-Maria Lopez, who is also one of the youngest Qualified Scuba Divers in the world at the age of 10.
“Tamanna got the certificate at the age of 10 years and one day, which is two days shorter than Turner,” Tamanna’s Instructor Prafful Chugh informed. Tamanna was trained at Dive India at Havelock Island in Andamans.
Tamanna was accompanied by her family for this achievement as her elder sister Rashi Balachandran, also became certified as a Scuba Diver with her. Thus making them One of the Youngest girl siblings in the country to be Certified & Qualified Scuba Divers.
Tamanna is now looking forward to continue her passion and love for Scuba diving & dreams of becoming the youngest Scuba Diving Instructor in the years to come, a communication received here said.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Apr 17: Andaman’s pride and tourist favourite Sea Plane Service of Andaman and Nicobar Islands will remain suspended for nearly a month after April 30 2014.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha recently the Commissioner cum Secretary of Civil Aviation, Mr. Mohanjeet Singh said that the present contract of supplying Sea Plane to Andaman and Nicobar Administration will end on April 2014.
“Instead of extending the lease we have asked the Pawan Hans to provide us a Sea Plane, which the Pawan Hans will take on wet lease. Pawan Hans is already providing us helicopters for inter-island connectivity,” Singh added.
He said that the process of acquiring a sea plane by Pawan Hans may take some time, which will cause the temporary suspension of Sea Plane Service.
“During the Suspension period, we would provide services of Helicopters to the Islands, which were connected with Sea Plane Service,” Singh added.
Sea Plane Service was formally launched in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 31 December 2010. The present sea plane is a Cessna Caravan 208 Amphibian and has a seating capacity of nine passengers and can land on water.

Port Blair, Apr 17: Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is currently filming for his movie Koothara. Today the actor posted on his official page: “At Andaman Nicobar Islands for Koothara shoot…”.
Koothara, is expected to be released in May this year, is produced by Mr. Shahul Hameed Marikar under the banner Marikar films.

Staff Correspondent

Port Blair, Apr 11: Visit the Facebook page of Diviyum Talkies and there would be regular updates urging public to keep the Cinema Hall clean.

“We have taken a lot of pain in getting this project up and running. We try our best to keep it refreshing and clean as possible. But recently there were some elements who spoiled the Auditorium by spitting paan. We are here to entertain you not clean up spits………We don’t want to go down the memory lane as place that was filled with paan spits but as place where a family enjoyed their time,” a recent post by the Administration of FB page of Diviyum Talkies mentioned.

This is good to see that the Diviyum Talkies is trying to keep the campus of the Cinema Hall clean but what about the social responsibility of the Cinema Hall owners towards keeping the Port Blair city clean.

It has been observed that shameful trend of defacing city by pasting posters of various films has started in these Islands. Posters of Diviyum Talkies are placed in various corners of Port Blair city, which have become an eye sore for Islanders and visitors.

The PBMC takes action against cultural groups if they put any unauthorised banner in city but surprisingly in this case the PBMC is silent.

When contacted the Chairperson of PBMC, Mr. K Ganeshan said that he is not aware whether the Cinema Hall has taken any permission from PBMC for putting film posters in various places of the city.

“If found violation of PBMC norms, action will surely be initiated,” he assured Andaman Sheekha. However, the owner of the Cinema Hall could not be reached over phone for a comment.

DJ Venkatesh & Aditya Lall Patel
Diglipur March, 20: Over 100 Marijuana plants (Ganja).have been seized by the Dy.S.P Diglipur alongwith other police staffs of PS Diglipur when they raided a house at Madhupur village. Two persons were arrested from the spot for cultivating large number Marijuana Plants (Ganja). According to reports nearly 1 KG of processed Ganja has also been seized from the said house.
Both the accused will be brought to Port Blair tomorrow. The identities of the persons taken into custody are being withheld pending further investigations and the detailed information will be given tomorrow, police sources informed today.

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Mar 20: In 2008 the Director General of Shipping had delegated the powers for inspection of equipments relating to safety equipments to Indian Register of Shipping (IRC). Earlier the powers were with MMD.
After 26 January 2014’s boat incident the Lt. Governor had ordered safety audit of all boats in Andaman following which all boat owners and departments, which operate vessels and boat purchased life jackets, sadly many of them have purchased life jackets either from unauthorized life jacket makers or the life jackets, which are approved by MMD.
The life jacket approved by MMD earlier, were actually banned as those life jackets have major defects of absorbing water, if kept in water for long time. Not only this the design of the life jacket is such that if the person at sea is tired and unable to keep his neck strait, the jacket may kill him.
Considering this, the IRS has introduced new designs of life jackets, which not only keeps people floating safely for a long long time but also does not absorb water.
Call it total ignorance or a trick to benefit some businessmen, some of the departments are still advertising for MMD approved life jackets in local newpapers.
For example recently CARI, Forest Department and Diglipur Panchayat Samity have recently published tender notice for purchase of MMD approved life jackets.
Ignorance of rules by government departments, is not an excuse. Departments, which are operating vessels and small boats must be aware of law of this land.
In name of safety discarded life jackets of Mainland India or life jackets from black market are flooding these Islands, which obviously will kill people than saving them, during disaster.
Such negligent attitude also shows that safety measures are taken by various departments just for sake of performing duty and keeping the top officers happy.