John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Oct 08: Answering to a questions, during a media interaction held by the Andaman and Nicobar Command recently, the Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman Nicobar Command had revealed that the ANC had granted a no-objection certificate for the construction of the bridge that would connect Bambooflat and Chatham Islands.
To get further details Andaman Sheekha Daily contacted Rear Admiral Sandeep Singh Sandhu, Chief of Staff at the Andaman and Nicobar Command, who provided further details, stating that the ANC had already issued the no-objection certificate and requested that the bridge be constructed at a height to allow ships to pass underneath.
He emphasized that the construction had received the green signal from the ANC command, and there were no concerns as most defense warships had a lower height compared to DSS passenger ships.
The construction of the bridge, initially promised by Mr. Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport & Highways, during his visit to Port Blair in February 2015, had yet to commence.
Meanwhile talking to Andaman Sheekha Team, the President of Living on the Edge (LoTE), Mr. Abhay Kumar said that the groundwork for the Chatham- Bambooflat Bridge, which now can be called as Haddo- Bambooflat Bridge is progressing well. He said that in the month of 21st May 2023, a crucial meeting was also held at the chamber of Chief Secretary of A & N Administration in which the designer of the bridge ( VKS Infratech) and NHIDCL officials were present. According to Mr Abhay Kumar, who is in constant touch with NHIDCL officials and designers of the bridge, presently there are some minor hurdles related to the land acquisition and underground power cable shifting. He said that there might be some minute change in bridge design also as per suggestion of A & N Administration.
For years, the dream of a bridge connecting Chatham with Bambooflat has remained a distant hope for thousands of residents of Bambooflat Island in Ferrargunj Tehsil. The residents of Bambooflat and Chatham Islands, who have long awaited this vital connection, are cautiously optimistic that their dreams of a bridge linking the two islands may soon become a reality.
Archives for October 8, 2023
Traffic Jam in Baratang Island Causes Commuter Distress
22
Ganeshan & John Wilbert
Baratang, October 10: Heavy traffic congestion gripped the Adazig area of Baratang Island today as multiple heavy vehicles got stranded on the muddy road surface. The incident unfolded this afternoon at around 12:15 PM, leaving hundreds of ATR commuters and local residents stranded for nearly five hours. The situation induced stress and panic among the public, particularly those traveling towards Diglipur and Mayabunder.
The gridlock was triggered by a loaded cement truck getting stuck in the loose mud, effectively blocking the road. Finally, by 5:45 PM, the road was cleared, allowing the traffic to flow again.
Compounding the issue, recent rainfall has turned the under-construction NH4 stretch into an accident-prone area. The general public has raised concerns over the unplanned work approach of NHIDCL and the lack of proper supervision, which has resulted in immense suffering for commuters.
Looking at the current condition of the NH4 stretch, it’s evident that the public, including pregnant women, senior citizens, and children, are facing significant hardships. The disrupted movement of vehicles along this route has also led to extensive traffic jams.
Previously, NHIDCL had initiated road upgrading works in the Baratang region, which involved a considerable amount of earth being deposited on the road. Unfortunately, this has become a recurring problem after every short bout of rain, inconveniencing residents and ATR commuters. The situation worsened after heavy rainfall in the area in the past couple of days, making the road exceedingly slippery and muddy.
ATR commuters are now demanding swift action from the administration to address the alleged negligent work practices of NHIDCL, which continue to plague them with daily transportation challenges.
Furthermore, the incident had a significant impact on the availability of mobile network services in the Shastri Nalllah of Adazig area, making it difficult for individuals to share information with the police in real-time.
Fortunately, someone informed the police of the situation, prompting the police officers at PS Baratang to take action immediately. Mr. Arun, in charge of NH Kadamtala, and his team worked tirelessly to clear the stuck truck from the road and perform necessary repairs to enable the smooth movement of vehicles.
The stuck truck was successfully removed at 5:30 PM, and thanks to the efforts of the police team at PS Baratang, the traffic jam was cleared. Passenger buses and trucks finally reached Nilambur Jetty at 6:30 PM and were released from the Middle Strait police checkpoint at 7:25 PM.
Pontoon Placed at Yeretta Jetty for Public Convenience; Member of Parliament expresses Gratitude
Port Blair, Oct 08: In response to a formal request made by Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Port Management Board has taken swift action to enhance the accessibility of Yeretta Jetty in Rangat. A pontoon has been installed at Yeretta Jetty, easing the movement of passengers heading to Long Island.
This development comes after a meeting held on September 27, 2023, when Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma personally met with the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. During the meeting, the Member of Parliament advocated for the establishment of either a Floating Jetty or a Pontoon near Yeretta Jetty, intended for the regular use of dinghies and small fiber boats destined for Long Island. Subsequently, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma also requested the Chief Port Administrator, emphasizing the need for a pontoon to facilitate the seamless transit of Long Island-bound passengers after the jetty had been temporarily closed to the public due to safety concerns.
Acknowledging Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma’s request and concerns, the Port Management Board has acted swiftly by installing the pontoon at Yeretta Jetty. The Member of Parliament was informed of this development by the Chief Port Administrator via phone call on October 6, 2023.
Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma has extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and the Chief Port Administrator for their proactive efforts in facilitating this important infrastructure improvement and also for the very basic day to day needs of the people of Long Island.
Revolutionizing Connectivity: A&N Islands See Remarkable Improvements with CANI Undersea Cable Project
Port Blair, Oct. 8: Considerable improvement has been seen in connectivity soon after the commencement of CANI undersea cable project in A&N Islands in the year 2020. The Tele-density is the parameter used to ascertain the mobile connectivity and as per data available the total Tele-density in India is 92 percent while in A&N Islands, it is 178 percent. Before the laying of CANI, the bandwidth was 4.1 Gbps which was through satellite and it increased to 200 Gbps after commencement of Under Sea Cable. It means that the Telecom Service Providers can hire upto 200 Gbps and they have so far purchased 138 Gbps in all segments and they include BSNL, Airtel and Reliance Jio.
As the population increases and as per the requirement of people, the Telecom Service Providers can hire more Gbps. The number of wired connections was 13584 which have increased upto 44943. The number of mobile connections was 4.76 lakh and it is 7.07 lakh at present. The speed of internet, which was 1 Mbps has now increased upto 300 Mbps through wired connection while the internet speed over mobile is between 15-20 Mbps. Though the connectivity has improved after CANI project, there are still shortcomings as some Islands like Katchal, Teressa, Chowra, Little Nicobar, Rutland, Strait Island which are not connected with CANI project. Apart from this, approximately 200 villages are still there which are not connected for which two types of works have been undertaken. First is the project by USOF, DOT GoI, that is 124 Base Transmission Station (BTS) which is executed by M/s Reliance Jio. These 124 BTS Project will provide 4G coverage by erecting 83 New Towers covering 36 uncovered villages and along National Highways. The second project approved by the GoI is 4G Saturation Project executed by BSNL. Through this Project, 88 New Towers covering 101 uncovered villages has been planned and also upgraded 80 existing 2G/3G Towers into 4G Towers covering 125 villages. In total, 226 uncovered villages will be covered through 4G saturation under this project. The Department facilitated for allotment of land, obtaining Forest Clearance etc. in a time bound manner. Implementation of the project is being monitored at the highest level in Administration and at GoI level. GoI has given timeline to RJIL and BSNL to complete the installation of mobile towers by Dec. 2023. Apart from this, an in-principle approval has been received by the GoI for Redundancy project under which sea cable will be laid from Bhubaneshwar to A&N Islands. This will also act as a back -up for the existing CANI project. The under sea cable will land at Diglipur at first and thereafter, it will cover other Islands such as Shaheed Dweep, Chowra, Teressa, Katchal and Little Nicobar too in a ring, the DPR for which has been prepared by TCIL. The DOT, GoI is in the process of obtaining Cabinet approval which is expected by December, 2023 and the project is expected to be completed by end of 2025. All major inhabited uncovered Islands will be covered by this project in the second phase. This will help us to cope up with the major fault if any, occurs in CANI project and also saving of annual hiring charges of Rs. 315 crores for transponders. The BharatNet project of GoI to provide cable connectivity through BSNL to 70 Panchayats, 7 Blocks and 4 Tribal Councils has been completed. Under this project, every Gram Panchayat has cable connection through which internet connection is being availed through FTTH by households, Primary Education Centres and PHCs. The IT Department hopes that after completion of different projects, the issue of connectivity in A&N Islands will be solved.
Support in e-Governance:
Under e-district, 109 Citizen centric services from 11 Departments have been completed. These services have been developed and managed by SOVTECH. In addition, 5 Government to Business (G2B) Services have been computerized. Further, NIC has also developed applications for 135 services in different Departments including 28 services where the benefits are transferred to eligible beneficiary through DBT mode. Thus, there are total 249 e-Services implemented as on date. The Department is in the process of identifying more services that are being provided in offline mode for its computerization.
There are issues at times of online delivery of services are delayed. To overcome this, efforts are also on to implement a ‘Citizens Charter’ which has been sent to the MHA for its approval. Once it is approved, a timeline will be fixed for delivery of services. Further, implementation of e-District services is also monitored by the Chief Secretary during the inter-departmental meetings.
Implementation of e-Office for ensuring transparency, efficiency and accountability:
e-office has been implemented in A&N Islands in record time. The implementation of e-Office commenced from last week of August 2022 including PSUs, Autonomous bodies, Societies, Colleges and completed by December, 2023. 54 Departments/ PSUs/Autonomous bodies and sub-offices are on-boarded and about 4500 users are actively using the e-Office. Implementation of e-Office is also monitored by Chief Secretary during the weekly inter-departmental meeting with Senior Officers. Efforts are on to onboard the left out Departments / Sub-Offices in remote Islands also to onboard on to e-Office in a time bound manner.
Support provided by IT Department in online recruitment and conduct of CBT mode of exam:
An online application (eRecruitment Portal) was developed for the benefit of all the aspiring applicants for online submission of application for recruitment anytime and from anywhere. About 45,000 applications were submitted through the portal by the candidates for different posts. For the first time, the A & N Administration conducted Computer Based Test (CBT) mode of exam, which is an online mode of examination. The CBT mode recruitment exam ensures free and fair examination with utmost transparency.
Common Service Centers (CSCs):
As on date total 104 CSCs (54 CSCs in South Andaman District, 44 CSCs in North & Middle Andaman District, and 6 CSCs in Nicobars District) are operational across A &N Islands. All 249 services of various Department of A&N Administration are offered through CSCs. In addition, various services and programmes of Central Government are also provided through these CSCs. The average footfall is around 200 per month.
Future plans of IT Department to start ventures like Incubation Centre as being done in mainland:
There are two issues being faced by Administration. First is the issue of connectivity of both mobile & internet in remote Islands. CANI has improved the connectivity. BharatNet project has been completed under which 1550 FTTH connections have been provided by BSNL to the rural households. Two more projects viz. 124 BTS of Reliance Jio and 4G saturation project by BSNL will be completed by the end of this year. With the completion of both these projects, the issue of connectivity will be solved to greater extant. Implementation of CANI-Phase-II by 2025 will ensure connectivity to remote Islands also. As far as the issue of employment is concerned, the IT Department requests the youth and the people in general to make productive use of internet to increase their livelihood, capacity building and learning etc. Nowadays, the facility of online marketing, digital marketing are available which can be done sitting at home. IT related jobs will only be possible when IT City or Software Technology Park is established in A&N Islands. An effort was made during the year 2017-18 during a meeting with NASCOM, an organization of software developers for setting up of the same. After corona, things have changed and big companies like TCS have started working in Hybrid model. However, during a meeting called by Secretary (IT & Electronics), the A&N Administration requested for appointing a Consultant to suggest a feasible model for A&N Islands, considering its geographical location. Apart from this, 104 Common Service Centers has been made functional which provides employment to one or two persons in each CSC. Efforts are on to increase more CSCs in different parts of these Islands. A 16-seater accommodation was also started for startups at Industries Department for IT & IT related services. Before corona, 8 entrepreneurs started working there, but after corona they preferred to work from home. Further, with the inauguration of CANI and better internet services, entrepreneurs started working from home avoiding paying a small amount for the accommodation provided to them with all required and basic facilities. For major employment in IT sector, the Administration is working towards appointing a Consultant for suggesting a hybrid model for setting up an IT City & Software Technology Park in A&N Islands, paving the way for more employment generation.
Member of Parliament Demands Urgent Repair of Damaged Port Blair City Roads
Port Blair, Oct 08: The Member of Parliament of Andaman Nicobar Islands. Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, has requested the Chief Secretary of A & N Administration to address the dire state of several road stretches in Port Blair following severe damage caused by recent monsoon rains.
The affected areas include the road leading to the Bhatu Basti junction, located directly in front of the private truck stand, as well as the road connecting Corbyn’s Cove Junction to Prothrapur Junction. These road segments have deteriorated to a point where they are nearly impassable, significantly inconveniencing the residents of Port Blair, including commuters, school students, and the general public who heavily rely on these routes.
In response to the critical situation, the Member of Parliament has requested the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to intervene and arrange for the necessary repair work to be carried out on these roads, ensuring their safety and accessibility.
Two Co-Accused of 2.095 Kgs of Seized Ganja arrested by PS Central Crime Station
Port Blair, Oct 08: In continuation to the arrest made in 2.095 Kgs of Marijuana seized on 04/10/2023, 02 more accused persons who are the staff of postal services namely S.A.Karthick S/o Late S.V.S.Anand (40) yrs, M.T.S R/o Shadipur and D.Wilson David Raj S/o Mr. V.Durairaj (27)yrs, DRM R/o Shadipur have been arrested under NDPS Act 1985 who were found to be actively involved in the crime.
On investigation, it is found that they had knowingly delivered the parcel containing Marijuana to the main accused in spite of the actual labeled addressee.
Andaman and Nicobar Police continues its relentless pursuit to curb drug trafficking and bring those responsible for such offenses to justice.
General Public is requested to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to drug trafficking or substance abuse to the police immediately on the following telephone numbers- 112/100, 232586, 233307, 9474257242 & 9531856080. Together, we can create a safer and drug-free society for everyone.
Vishal Jolly expresses gratitude towards CS and CPA for responding to Long Island Issue
Port Blair, Oct 08: Mr. Vishal Jolly National Executive Member BJP & Former State President BJP-ANI expresses his profound gratitude towards Chief Secretary, A & N Administration & Chief Port Administrator, PMB for immediately responding to his request to make alternative arrangements for providing instant relief to the residents of Long Island.
Accordingly, all interim measures that were taken appear to be in the best interest of the people of that region by deployment of one Pontoon at Yerrata Jetty on 06th October, 2023 is providing intervening relief to school children, patients to a large extent. It is appreciated that positive and prompt steps are being taken to ensure that the supply chain of essential materials are maintained.
ANTCC takes out protest march against BJP IT Cell over portraying Rahul Gandhi as “Raavan”
Port Blair, Oct 08: The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee held a massive protest march in Port Blair on the 07th of October, 2023 against the BJP IT Cell for portraying Mr. Rahul Gandhi as the ‘NEW AGE RAAVAN’ in a social media poster.
The Congress leaders and workers marched from Gandhi Bhawan to Gandhi Statue holding Banners and Party Flag under the leadership of ANTCC President Mr. Rangalal Halder and ANTCC Campaign Committee Chairman Mr. TSG Bhasker. They raised slogans against PM Modi and the BJP IT Cell to condemn the propaganda of spreading hatred in the nation.
Addressing the party workers Mr. Halder said “Rahul Gandhi spreads the message of love and brotherhood but the BJP portrayed him as a ‘Raavan’ which reflects the mindset of the BJP and its ideological fountainhead RSS”.
He added that the BJP is scared of Rahul Gandhi’s popularity and is resorting to unethical deeds, but the people of the country will soon decide who is Ram and who is Raavan, just like in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh.
The protest held a dual purpose: first, to defend the reputation and dignity of their leader, and second, to take a firm stand against the propagation of hate and divisive politics. It was a rallying call for supporters of the Congress party who were deeply aggrieved by the visual depiction of their leader in a derogatory light.
In addition to the protest, the Andaman Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee took a significant step by filing a formal complaint against the BJP IT Cell. The complaint was submitted at the Aberdeen Police Station, highlighting the need for legal action in response to the circulation of the objectionable poster.
The Programme was attended by the Senior Leaders of Congress Party, Mahila Leaders, Congress Seva Dal & Committee, City Congress & Committee, Frontal Organizations & Committee, ANTCC Department & Cells, PBMC Councilors and Workers of Congress Party to uphold the principles of democracy and unity that our country stands for.
CPI(M) to Demand CBI Inquiry on NH4 and Middle Strait Bridge
Port Blair, Oct 08: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has decided to demand an investigation by CBI into the renovation of National Highway 4 in North and Middle Andaman and construction of Bridge at Middle Strait entrusted to the NHIDCL in view of the poor quality of work undertaken by the agency during the last 5 – 6 years. A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the CPI (M) Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee held at Shaheed Bhavan, Anarkali, Port Blair today (8.10.2023).
The Party has viewed that there is massive corruption involved in the renovation work of the NH4 and construction of Bridge at Middle Strait. The meeting decided to carry out extensive campaign among the people on the failure of the BJP-led government and Congress MP in completing the renovation of NH4 and Middle Strait Bridge in a time-boud and proper manner. The party has also decided to conduct territory-wide agitation on the issue of deplorable condition of roads including NH4, frequent power disruption, etc. CPI (M) called upon its various units in the islands to conduct agitations on local issues of the area.
The meeting reviewed the political situation in the islands and came to the conclusion that the BJP-government has utterly failed to address various problems faced by the islanders.
Addressing the meeting, Dr SujanChakraborthy, Ex-MP and Central Committee Member of the Party, who reached Port Blair from Kolkatta today morning, said that the Modi government is diverting the attention of the people from the real issues of unemployment, poverty, price rise, etc in the country. BJP is trying to subvert the Constitution of India to suit their Agenda. He said that disparity between the poor and super rich are widening under Modi regime. Government is trying to destabilize opposition and said that BJP is trying to put down voice against government.
D. Ayyappan, Secretary, State Orgnaising Committee presented the report about the activities of the Party in the islands since last meeting held in June, 2023. Nikunjo Biswas, State Secretariat Member presided over the meeting.
ANC Celebrates 23rd Raising Day
Port Blair, Oct 08: The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) marked its 23rd Raising Day on 08 Oct 23. Established in 2001 as a ‘Unified Command’ under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar (CINCAN), the ANC has continually exemplified synergy and cohesion among the Services while safeguarding national interests in the distant Andaman & Nicobar region.
The 23rd Raising Day celebrations of the Andaman and Nicobar Command were a testament to the Command’s dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to its responsibilities and the well-being of the region. ANC continues to be a symbol of national pride and security in the Andaman & Nicobar archipelago.
Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, AVSM, VM, the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), presided over the Joint Services Parade held at INS Utkrosh to commemorate this significant milestone. In his address, CINCAN extended his warmest felicitations to all the personnel of ANC and their families. He acknowledged their dedication and exhorted them to put in their best foot forward to maintain Command’s Operational preparedness.
CINCAN highlighted the remarkable growth and operational efficiency achieved by the Command since its inception in 2001. He emphasised the indomitable spirit and commitment displayed by the Command in safeguarding the territorial integrity and security of its Area of Responsibility (AOR). Furthermore, he commended the personnel for conduct of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and casualty evacuation on numerous occasions in the Past.
As India’s only Joint Services Operational Command, ANC has played a pivotal role in effectively and efficiently safeguarding the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including its extensive coastline and vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). CINCAN also expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the remarkable and tireless efforts of the Defence Wives Welfare Association (DWWA) which has consistently made significant contributions to the community. Through campaigns and various initiatives, DWWA enhances the quality of life for ANC personnel and their families, while actively supporting the welfare of the local populace.
Highlighting the importance of teamwork, CINCAN lauded the exceptional cohesion observed at all levels with the Civil Administration and various security agencies. This collective effort is instrumental in synergising actions to provide comprehensive security and foster the growth and prosperity of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, contributing to the nation at large.