John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, September 22: In a bid to counter the continuous press conferences held by the Congress party, Mr. Ajoy Bairagi, the State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Mr. Vishal Jolly, BJP’s National Executive Member and former State President, led a press conference today at the BJP State Office located at Shyama Prasad Mukerjee Bhawan, Middle Point.
The conference saw the presence of prominent BJP leaders, including Mr. K Ramdas, State General Secretary, and Dr. Devdas, State Secretary. The primary objective of this press conference was to respond to what the BJP perceived as unfounded allegations raised by the Congress Party, both at the national level and concerning the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
One of the central issues addressed during the conference was the deplorable condition of NH4 in North and Middle Andaman, which has been a major concern for the local population over the past couple of years. Mr. Bairagi conveyed that the BJP had taken this issue seriously and had raised it with the BJP High Command and Mr. Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India in New Delhi.
A detailed letter accompanied by photographs highlighting the dire state of NH-4 was submitted to the Minister. Additionally, the problem was also brought to the attention of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, leading to a meeting with National Highways Officials and the NH road contractor. During this meeting, the contractor assured that the existing 3.5 KM road stretch between Baratang to Rangat (54 KM), Nimbutala Jungle (11 KM), and Billiground would be made motorable, addressing all potholes.
He claimed that the Chief Secretary also pledged to provide all possible assistance to complete the work. While the contractor managed to complete approximately 08 to 10 KM of work, they failed to fulfill their promise. Heavy monsoon rains exacerbated the road’s condition, making it even worse.
Recently, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) assigned work to three new contractors to repair potholes and one contractor for major repairs. A total of four contractors are currently working on the project. The existing tender for the Baratang to Rangat road work will be canceled within a month, and officials have assured that the re-tendering process will commence by January 2024. The forest clearance for the 11 KM Nimbudera Jungle stretch will be obtained within a month, and the work is expected to be completed by March 2024, as per NHIDCL’s commitment.
Mr. Vishal Jolly, BJP’s National Executive Member and former State President, emphasized the party’s dedication to serving the people. He underscored that the Bharatiya Janata Party is continually striving for the welfare of the underprivileged and recently met Mr. Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, GoI. During the meeting, the BJP delegation presented a comprehensive account of NH-4’s lamentable condition, complete with facts and figures.
In response, the Union Minister directed the authorities of NHIDCL to expedite the process of canceling tenders awarded to the contractors responsible for the current state of NH-4. Fresh tenders will be called for immediately, and repairs will be carried out on various stretches of NH-4 as necessary.
Mr. Jolly also highlighted the suffering and mental anguish of commuters in North & Middle Andaman District, specifically pointing out three main stretches with severely deteriorated conditions: 22 KM between Baratang to Azad Hind Fauj, 12 KM beyond Rest Camp, and 10 KM between Kaushalya Nagar to Gate No 15.
Furthermore, Mr. Jolly provided an update on government job recruitment, noting that the Governor and Chief Secretary are diligently working to fill 5,000 vacant positions before the end of this year.

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, September 20: Approximately 22 contractual employees, serving as Vocational Instructors at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) under the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, are facing severe financial distress as they have allegedly not received their salaries for the past six months. Among them, 14 are stationed in Car Nicobar, while seven are based in Port Blair.
A few employees, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared their plight with the Andaman Sheekha Daily. They expressed frustration over the continuous delay in salary payments, which has created extreme financial hardships for many of them. Some are struggling to support their families, meet daily expenses, cover medical bills for family members, pay EMIs, house rent, and fund their children’s higher education. Despite their pleas, they claim that the authorities have not provided a satisfactory response.
When Andaman Sheekha reached out to the concerned section of the ITI, an official mentioned that they had recently received approval from the administration in this regard. He assured that the pending salaries would be disbursed to the employees within the week. However, the ITI employees alleged that this was not the first instance of salary delays for various reasons.

 

John Wilbert &Vikramaditya
Port Blair, sept 18: In the dark and seeking answers, the residents of South Andaman District have been grappling with persistent power cuts over the past week. Today however the situation worsened as a large area in South Andaman experienced a power outage lasting over seven hours. To add insult to injury, many areas reported low voltage issues, adding to the residents’ woes. The majority of the people felt blindsided, with little to no understanding of the reasons behind these prolonged outages.
The heart of the matter seems to stem from the Chatham power plant. A senior officer from the Electricity Department, who does not want his name to be quoted, shed light on the issue when contacted by Andaman Sheekha Daily. “We have faced a technical glitch at the Chatham power plant which led to a power break. Our teams are actively working to resolve the issue, and we hope to restore power once the situation stabilizes. We have also escalated the issue to higher authorities,”he revealed.
The power predicament hasn’t just caused discomfort; it has real consequences for the General Public. Residents of both Port Blair and its adjoining Panchayat areas have been subjected to recurring outages from dawn till dusk. These disruptions have severely impacted the daily lives of everyone.
Moreover, local businesses, particularly those in the tourism sector like small hotels and homestays, have been hit hard. They are facing mounting financial losses due to their inability to offer comfortable services to guests amidst the power disruptions. Running DG Sets for several hours by many hotels is adding up to their losses.
The Electricity Department official further explained, “the technical glitch has affected the entire substation of South Andaman’s feeder. This disruption is the primary reason residents have been facing these power cuts.”
It seems that as far as power and ATR issues the Andaman & Nicobar Administration has become totally helpless. The General Public now has a feeling that there is no one in Administration who is bothered about the problems and pains being faced by Islanders.

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Thoratang, Sept 17: Several parts of Middle Andaman region have been hit by heavy rainfall since last night, resulting in flash floods that have wreaked havoc across several areas.
Rangat, Swadesh Nagar, Thoratang wards 4, 5, 6, and Duke Nagar, along with low-lying sections of Shantipur, Pinakinagar, and parts of Harinagar villages, bore the brunt of the deluge. Similar report of flood like situation has also been received from some parts of North Andaman region.
In many places, residents were forced to flee their homes, and numerous houses, as well as crops, sustained significant damage.
Thoratang village, in particular, was hit hard, with approximately 10 residential houses inundated by the floodwaters. The Rangat Police Station, Mayabunder, and Billiground received an early morning distress call regarding the flash flood in Rangat. In response, a dedicated team of police officers sprang into action, joined by the Rangat Fire Brigade.
At Thoratang area, despite facing daunting challenges, the police team, led by Sub Inspector Shiju Kumar (SHO Billiground), Sub Inspector Manoj Lal, Sub Inspector Inderjeet, Head Constable Amrita Bawali, Sandeep, Police Constable Jitender Barik, Mustafa, Selavam, and other staff members, worked tirelessly.
Alongside them, Pradhan Mr. Debabrata Das and other PRI members successfully rescued nearly 20 individuals from eight families in Thoratang village, ensuring their safety.
After completing their rescue operations in Thoratang and Duke Nagar, the police continued patrolling the vulnerable low-lying areas throughout the evening, redoubling their efforts. The general public in the region expressed their appreciation for the diligent work of the police and fire brigade teams, both in rescuing stranded families and maintaining law and order during such torrential rainfall. By evening, the water had receded in most areas, allowing affected residents to return to their homes.
However, beneath the surface of this natural disaster lies a deeper issue that the residents of Swadesh Nagar Gram Panchayat are eager to address. In the Middle Andaman district, they have accused a private company operating under the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) of neglecting the reconstruction and repair of a critical concrete bridge over a local stream. This project has languished for four years, and today’s flood in the Thoratang area is partly attributed to the incomplete Thoratang Bridge.
Moreover, frequent flooding in the region has been exacerbated by blockages in the hume pipe culvert during heavy rainfall, as reported by villagers. Mr. Debabrata Das, the Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat Swadesh Nagar, voiced his concerns, noting that today’s waterlogging affected the entire Thoratang village, including wards 4, 5, and 6, where approximately ten houses in low-lying areas suffered damage. Additionally, several lakhs worth of crops, both stored and under cultivation, were destroyed due to the sudden flooding. Mr. Das urgently appealed to the Administration and NHIDCL to compensate the affected families.
The Thoratang Bridge project had made significant progress a few months ago, but work has stagnated recently. This bridge holds immense importance as it connects North Andaman to Middle Andaman and South Andaman via the ATR route. In the interim, NH constructed another hume pipe bridge near the concrete bridge. Unfortunately, due to poor maintenance, the hume pipe frequently gets blocked, leading to flooding in nearby villages. Primary school Swadesh Nagar and approximately 200 families in wards 3, 4, 5, and 6 have been severely affected by waterlogging.

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya

Port Blair, Sept 15: Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, the Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, convened a press conference today to draw attention to the deplorable condition of the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) from Baratang to Diglipur region.

During the press conference, the Member of Parliament revealed that he has written a letter to the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, informing the Minister about the woeful state of the NH4. In his correspondence, he emphasized that if significant improvements were not made to make the route motorable for the general public within the next 15 days, he would stage a one-day hunger strike at Rangat on 1st October 2023.

He clarified that this hunger strike marked his initial step, and if necessary, he would resort to more substantial measures to ease the suffering of the people in North and Middle Andaman, as well as ATR commuters.

“It is the responsibility of NHIDCL to repair all the potholes and make the NH4 road atleast fit for movement of vehicles. If nothing is done in 15 days I will be forced to go for a mass agitation,” he added.

Having personally travelled in a State transport bus, the Member of Parliament witnessed first-hand the deplorable condition of the Andaman Trunk Road and the distress experienced by its users, especially pregnant women, elderly individuals, children, and school students. He commended the dedicated staff of the State Transport Service (STS), who are dedicatedly operating buses despite the challenging road conditions.

In response to questions, the Member of Parliament disclosed that he had been highlighting this issue constantly in various forums, including Parliament and the administration, since 20021. However, the situation has only worsened over time, necessitating his decision to initiate this step.

 

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Sept 14: In the aftermath of the recent collapse of the Panighat Jetty, a chorus of concern is resounding across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Islanders are united in their call for immediate safety audits of all antiquated jetties scattered across the archipelago, a demand rooted in the pressing necessity to safeguard the lives of both residents and visiting tourists, given the Islands’ susceptibility to seismic activity.
While the Panighat Jetty’s collapse did not result in any major casualties, it has evoked profound apprehension among the local populace. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential hazards posed by insufficient safety precautions.
Commenting on the situation, one concerned resident emphasized, “We were fortunate this time that the Panighat Jetty collapse did not lead to significant casualties. However, relying solely on luck for our safety is not an acceptable course of action.”
In response to this growing concern, Andaman Sheekha reached out to the Chief Port Administrator of the Port Management Board recently. The CPA conveyed the gravity of the situation, assuring that the administration is taking the matter very seriously. An initial examination of the area has already been conducted, and a comprehensive report has been submitted to the administration.
He added that approximately 15 jetties across various parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been identified for in-depth assessments related to structural strength and technical safety. Furthermore, the administration is contemplating a scientific study, to be conducted by experts. To this end, the Department of Ocean Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, has been formally requested to investigate the matter and provide expert opinions on all 15 jetties.

Port Blair, Sep 13:Port Blair, Sept 13: The virtual launch of Ayushman Bhav Campaign by Hon’ble President, Smt Droupadi Murmu from Raj Bhavan, Gandhinagar was also live streamed at Raj Niwas, Port Blair. The State Level function of launch of Ayushman Bhav Campaign aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage and ensuring healthcare for all was held in the conference hall of Raj Niwas here today. Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency graced the programme. During the function, Hon’ble Lt. Governor administered the pledge for ‘Organ Donation’ to the gathering. He also felicitated 9 Nikshay Mitras from South Andaman for their support towards TB patients in Isles viz. Shri Anil Srivastava, Trustee, Gayatri Pariwar Trust, Port Blair, Shri MP Abdul Rasheed, Smti Amit Goenka, Proprietor, Goenka Group, Shri Mandeep Grewal, Director, Guru Ki Rasoi, Dr. Jochibed Vincent, Asst. Professor ( English), ANCOL, Dr. R. Paluru Vijayachari, Director, RMRC, Shri Biju Daniel, Secretary, Thomas Cares Foundation, Ms VK Mariam Bibi, President, With You ,NGO and Smti Jhansi Rani, Secretary, Good Samaritan Club.
The programme was attended by Senior Officers of A&N Administration, Adhyaksh, ZPSA, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Chairperson, PBMC, Smti S Selvi and Nikshay Mitras.
Earlier, the Secretary (Health), Dr. Satyendra Singh Dursawat, IAS welcomed the gathering and informed about Ayushman Bhav Campaign which is focused on three important components viz. Ayushman – Apke Dwar 3.0, Ayushman Melas at Health and Wellness Centres and Community Health Centres and Ayushman Sabhas in every village and Panchayat. He also informed that in A&N Islands, 92 Nikshay Mitras have been registered so far and they are providing nutritional supplements to the TB patients. He remarked that it is our social responsibility to create awareness on Govt. schemes, so that it reaches the beneficiaries.

Rahul & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Sept 12: The renowned chef of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Ashwar Pal Singh, owner of 4 Seasons Event Management, today announced his plans to prepare an astonishing 500+ KG Laddu for this year’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. This ambitious endeavor aims to surpass last year’s 400+ KG Laddu, which drew thousands of enthusiasts and became the talk of the islands.
“Ganesh Chaturthi is not just a festival but a significant cultural event in India. Our attempt to make the largest Laddu is not just a symbol of our devotion to Lord Ganesha but also showcases our commitment to celebrating and preserving our rich cultural heritage,” stated Mr. Singh during a press conference held in Port Blair.
To give attendees a taste of what’s in store, Mr. Singh showcased a video detailing the preparation and dedication that went into making last year’s massive 400+ KG Laddu. Further, he announced plans for a Ganesh Laddu rally that will traverse key locations in Port Blair, reminiscent of the previous year’s procession. Following the rally, the 500+ kg Laddu will be graciously donated to the Netaji Club Ganesh Mandapam, as was the custom last year.
Mr. Singh emphasized that the entire initiative is self-funded. “This entire effort is a heartfelt tribute to Lord Ganesha,” he remarked. He also extended an invitation to the public, stating, “On the 18th, the 500+ KG Laddu will be unveiled at the 4 Seasons campus on VIP Road. We invite everyone to join us and witness this grand spectacle.” He added that there will also be a cultural programme at 4 Seasons office VIP road for the devotees.
After a three-day display at Netaji Cub Ganesh Mandapam, the Laddu will be distributed among devotees and various Pooja Mandapams, following the tradition set last year. Mr. Singh concluded by urging all island residents to be a part of this momentous occasion, beckoning them to experience the culinary marvel created by 4 Seasons.

 

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Teressa Island, Sept 11: The residents of Teressa Island of Nicobar District are facing a severe shortage of essential commodities, attributed to the reduced number of sailings between Port Blair and Nancowry.
Reports emerging from the Island since yesterday highlight an acute shortage of items like rice, wheat flour, dal, milk, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes. Sugar remains the sole exception, with supplies expected to last only a few more days.
Local sources revealed the scarcity of most dry ration items and vegetables. An Islander, who preferred to remain unnamed, lamented, “Even our tea packets are running out.”
A private shopkeeper in Teressa commented on the dire situation, saying, “Over the past few months, we’ve received limited stocks of groceries and vegetables. For two weeks now, we’ve received nothing, leaving us with just sugar and some stationery items for sale.”
Mr. Benher, the First Captain of Teressa Islands, affirmed the issue. He stated that the community has been grappling with these shortages for two weeks. “While the islanders have tried to manage with local sources like seafood, recent heavy rainfall has also impacted fishing activities,” he added.
Upon contacting the Assistant Commissioner of Nancowry Islands, it was confirmed that the main cause behind this scarcity is the limited ship sailings, especially with MV Bharat Seema not being operational. However, there’s some relief in sight. He said, “We have sufficient dry ration items at our civil supply in Teressa. We’re regularly dispatching groceries via our speed boat. Once the MV Bharat Seema resumes operations, supplies will be directly sent to Teressa.” He assured residents that he’s in constant touch with local officials and promised prompt action to address the issue.