Two years after inauguration Junglighat Jetty still to get ‘operational’ status: Lack of Monitoring by Agencies again results into half work completion by Contractor

Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, June 04: It seems that people of these islands will have to wait for some more years to see the Junglighat Jetty fully operational. The Junglighat Jetty was inaugurated around two years back but it is not declared operational Jetty yet for inter-island vessels as huge quantity of construction debris is still present along the sides of the jetty, which needs to be cleared.
The Construction work of the Junglighat Jetty was carried out by the Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works through a Company namely Brison Roof. But the work has not been completed as they were supposed to clear the Construction Debris also along the sides of the Jetty.
Not to let the Jetty stand ideal the PMB then declared the Jetty as a maintenance Jetty for Private as well as the boats of Directorate of Shipping Services.
After doing that now more than 20 vessels including the vessels of DSS are berthed at the Jetty which are in the condition of scraping. A few months before a boat also sunk near the Jetty.
Asking about the condition of Junglighat Jetty to the Chief Port Administrator, PMB, Dr RD Tripathy said that the Junglighat Jetty was constructed for the purpose of Inter Island Vessels and dredging of 5 meter of depth was done for the purpose.
He said that as the debris along the side of the Jetty is yet to be cleared, the Jetty was not declared an operational Jetty and was declared a Maintenance Jetty.
“No doubt the Jetty was inaugurated two years back and many boats, that are in the scraping stage, are berthed there. But the PMB on regular basis is making efforts to remove those boats from the Jetty,” Dr Tripathy said.
Dr Tripathy further said that PMB on regular basis is also requesting the ALHW officials and asking them to remove the debris soon. “The PMB recently also had a meeting with the Brison Roof, company and they also assured that they will remove the debris but till date there is no progress,” Dr Tripathy said.
“I learnt that due to movement of Crocodiles in the Sea near Junglighat Jetty the company fears to remove the debris going under water,” Dr Tripathy lastly said.