ANDAMAN SHEEKHA

The True Mirror of A & N Islands

Archives for April 20, 2023

Massive Power Cuts Plague Port Blair and South Andaman Residents: Electricity Department Clarifies: Power interruption due to damage of main Underground Power Cables

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Port Blair, Apr 20: Port Blair City has been hit by massive power cuts since yesterday, causing great distress to the residents of the region. The power cuts, which have been several hours long, have troubled islanders, especially with the hot and humid season upon them. Even this morning, there was no power till late afternoon, leaving people of Port Blair and South Andaman region high and dry.
The power cuts have been a terrible experience for most of the Islanders, as not everyone can afford an inverter. The prolonged power cuts have left many without electricity for extended periods, leading to inconvenience and discomfort. Even site offices have not been able to provide proper answers for the prolonged power cuts.
According to the Electricity Department, the power interruption happened due to damage of main Tie Lines 33 KV underground cables connecting two major Power Houses viz. Chatham Power House and Phoenix Bay Power House. On inspection it was found that the cable had got damaged due to drilling works carried out by the firm M/s. Ratna Fibers Limited for laying of CCTV Camera under Smart City Project.
In order to repair the underground power cables, the excavation work was undertaken in the morning hours of 20.04.2023. It was found that two underground power cables had got damaged i.e. one 11 KV Tie Line and another 33 KV Tie Line connecting Phoenix Bay Power House and Chatham Power House.
According to the Electricity Department, while carrying out excavation work which involved manual digging also, as a safety precaution all the cables which were running in proximity were also isolated. Due to this there was disconnection between two major power stations and hence to manage the gap between demand and supply, some of the feeders were isolated on a requirement basis.

Slow Pace of NH-4 Road Worry Residents: Draft DPR of Chatham-Bambooflat Bridge forwarded to HQ, NHIDCL is under Examination: DGM, NHIDCL

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Port Blair, April 17: The slow pace of the construction of NH-4 Road from Port Blair to Diglipur and the delay in the construction of the Chatham-Bambooflat Bridge are causing great concern among the residents of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
According to an action taken report sent to Mr. G Bhasker, the Chairman of Campaign Committee, ANTCC, sent by Mr. M K Reddy, Dy. General Manager (P) of RO-Port Blair, NHIDCL, the NH-4 Road construction has been progressing at a very slow pace due to various factors such as poor planning of material, delay in mobilization of resources from the mainland, Covid-19 waves affecting the work for almost two years, and administrative constraints due to prolonged restrictions on the movement of logistics.
There is also a ban on stone quarries to open for public use, which has caused a shortage of stone aggregates. The report also highlights the discrepancy in the RoW handover by the APWD and a delay in the grant of Forest Clearances from the Forest Department as the main reasons for the initial delay in the execution of the work.
Despite these challenges, NHIDCL has been trying to complete all the projects as soon as possible, he claimed.
The RO has recommended the termination of the contract, which is under the purview of the HQ, NHIDCL. Urgent and absolute works pertaining to traffic and motor ability have already been taken by this Regional Office through a local contractor at the Risk & Cost of the defaulting contractor, he added.
Regarding the construction of the Chatham-Bambooflat Bridge, the Draft DPR has been forwarded to HQ, NHIDCL on 25.02.2023, which is under examination for obtaining sanction from the MORTH. The delay in the construction of the bridge has been a cause of concern for the residents, as it is a crucial link for many areas in the region.

MP demands to construct a 100 bedded free accommodations for male patient/attendants and 100 bedded free dormitory accommodations for female patient/attendants inside G B P Hospital Campus

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Port Blair, Apr 20: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to construct a 100 bedded free accommodations for male patient-attendants and 100 bedded free dormitory accommodations for female patient-attendants inside G B Pant Hospital Campus.

During his recent meeting with the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, the Member ofParliamentmentioned that the 200 bedded accommodation will provide free accommodation to the attendants and will be immensely helpful for both patients and attendants for treatment. Such accommodation will also help in curtailing the up and down transportation cost of attendants.

He said that a large number of patients and attendants, who are visiting Port Blair for treatment from Middle & North Andaman and Nicobar District have to face a lot of difficulties at Port Blair due to unavailability of a budget accommodation at Port Blair.

The Member of Parliament pointed out that presently they have to pay heavily for lodging and transportation at Port Blair. Most of the patients and attendants hail from poor backgrounds and are mostly dependent on farming.

He added that due to the absence of sufficient budget accommodations at Port Blair they have to stay at lodges and have to pay for their transportation, lodging and boarding daily to see the patients.

Member of Parliament sanctions Rs.20,00,000 from MPLADs for Construction of Multipurpose Hall at Shantanu Village of Kadamtala region

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Port Blair, Apr 20: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has sanctioned Rs. 20,00,000 (Twenty Lakhs rupees) for construction of a Multipurpose Hall at Shantanu Village, Ward Number 03 of Uttara Gram Panchayat, Kadamtala, Middle Andaman, for Community utilization.

Once completed the Community Hall will be an asset for the village where residents of the area can organize social gatherings, festivals, government training programmes, awareness programmes, skill development camps and other important functions.

District Congress Committee Organizes a District Level “Jai Bharat Satyagraha Sabha” at Bambooflat Jetty

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Port Blair, Apr 20: As part of the nation-wide Jai Bharat Satyagraha launched by All India Congress Committee (AICC), the District Congress Committee today organize a District Level “Jai Bharat Satyagraha Sabha” at Bambooflat Jetty to protest against the erroneous conviction and disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The Satyagraha was organized under the leadership of ANTCC President Mr. Rangalal Halder, ANTCC Campaign Committee Chairman Mr. TSG Bhasker and Zilla Parishad Member Mrs. V.K Mariyam Bibi in solidarity with Rahul Gandhi for his fearless and uncompromising fight against the loot of public and national wealth by Modi-Adani nexus.
Bambooflat Jetty and shouted slogans against the dictatorship of BJP. The Congress leaders also demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Halder said “Jai Bharat Satyagraha is a movement to save the declining democracy and fight the oppressive rule of the BJP Government”.
He added that raising the voice of the general public against corruption has become a crime in the Modi rule.
Addressing the Sabha, Mr. Bhasker also deliberated on political and democratic issues by highlighting the alleged link between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gautam Adani in promoting crony capitalism.
He also criticized the BJP for destroying the democracy in the country and unleashing an atmosphere of fear among the common people.
Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Mariyam Bibi said that the only reason why all this action was taken against Rahul Gandhi is because he talked about the relationship of the Prime Minister of the Country with Adani.
She added that the poor and the downtrodden are being crushed under huge taxation, unprecedented price rise and unemployment in the country.
The Sabha was addressed by several senior leaders of the party like AICC Member Mrs. Shanta Laxman Singh, Mahila Congress South Andaman Coordinator Mrs. Zubaida Begum, ANTCC Spokesperson Mr. A. Tamilselvan, ANJP State President Mr. Venkat Ram Babu, Ex-DCC General Secretary Mr. Abhibhushan Ghosh, NSUI State President Mr. M.A Sajid and Ex-City Congress General Secretary Mr. Raj Reddy.

TSG Foundation Provides Lunch to Inmates of Seva Niketan

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Port Blair, Apr 20: As part of the mandate of touching lives, the TSG Foundation in association with TSG Hotels & Resorts provided lunch to inmates of Seva Niketan, Dairy Farm, Port Blair here on Thursday.
The management of Seva Niketan thanked TSG Foundation for their kind gesture in assisting the orphanage in taking good care of the childrens.

PBMC Team led by Chairperson Inspects Gandhi Market

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Port Blair, Apr 20: The Chairperson, Port Blair Municipal Council Mrs. S Selvi along with the Sr. Vice Chairperson Mr. Dharmendra Narayan, Jr. Vice Chairperson Mr. B Padmanabhan and officials of PBMC on today inspected Gandhi Market as per the request of Shopkeepers of Gandhi Market. Elected representatives of various wards of the Council were also present during the inspection. After inspecting the site the Civic Chief issued necessary instructions to the concerned Engineers of PBMC to prepare an alternative arrangement to shift the shops and also to construct a new block of M. G Market by dismantling it, because of its dilapidated condition as it may lead to threat to life and property at any time. Further the Chairperson assured the shopkeepers that the works of shifting the shops and dismantling of the structure will be started at the earliest.

Fire Safety Week Observed at GSSS Kapanga Katchal

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Port Blair, Apr 20: On the occasion of National Fire Safety Week which is being observed from 14th April to 20th April 2023 an awareness programme on Fire Safety was conducted by the Fire Service Station of Katchal at GSSS Kapanga, to create awareness among the students on the Fire safety, a painting competition was conducted for the students of classes VI-XII on 18th April 2023,on 20th April 2023 a lecture-cum-demonstration programme was organized on Fire Safety under the guidance of the Station officer (SI) Fire Station Katchal Mr. Amar Kumar Roy .The Programme was attended by 85 students and 20 Teachers.

The Programme was coordinated by Mr. Suresh J.Panicker and the programme concluded with vote of Thanks by the Teacher In-charge of the school Mr. V.Machendran, (PGT)

INTACH Andaman and Nicobar Chapter Celebrates Earth Day with the students of Khalsa Public School

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Port Blair, Apr 20: To make students aware of local and endemic species of the islands, INTACH chose to distribute books titled Anmol Dweep to the students. The book has an abundance of information on the endemic species of islands. A total of 160 students participated in the session.
Students drew bat fishes, and leatherback turtles, and the salt water crocodile and the Common Birdwing. A few chose to add their own colors to coral reefs, while a few others were fascinated by the Narcondam Hornbill. The children also took an oath to protect the environment and love their islands.
The sessions were conducted by Samhita Vede Acharya, Convenor, INTACH Andaman and Nicobar Chapter with support from volunteers Ebi Mathew and Sibi Mathew. INTACH extends its gratitude to Principal S.K. Jagpal for her kind support.

Blood Donation Camp Organizes by DBRAIT Students as Part of 14th Up-Gradation Day

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Port Blair, Apr 20: To mark the 14th Up-gradation day of DBRAIT with a social cause, a blood donation camp was organized by the DBRAIT students Council in association with A & N Aids Control Society. 36 Volunteers donated blood. The institute, the then Govt. Polytechnic was upgraded to an institute of technology in the year 2009 by introduction of engineering degree programmes on this day. The technical team headed by Dr. Shahina of G.B.Pant hospital ensured that the donated blood units are screened for transmissible diseases. They also examined the donors on various aspects and importance of blood donation. Donor’s certificates will also be distributed to all the volunteers’ donors.