District Administration is hitting hard on bootleggers

Port Blair, Oct. 08: With the motto of zero tolerance towards illegal sale of alcohol, the District Administration is hitting hard on bootleggers in South Andaman District.

The Office of Deputy Commissioner received an information on 08^th October 2020 regarding the illegal sale of liquor in Dairy Farm area. On receipt of information, the Excise team of District Administration raided the Dairy Farm area. On sensing about the raid by the excise team, the bootlegger escaped. Taking cognizance in the matter, the premises has been sealed by the District Administration and the Police Department has been directed to take necessary action against the persons indulged in these illegal activities.

The District Administration hereby cautions all persons indulged in illegal sale of liquor to refrain from such activities. Strict actionunder relevant provisions of law will be initiated against the violators.

General public is hereby requested to intimate any such illegal activities in District Control Room number 1070, a communication from the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman District.

IGNOU Students advised

Port Blair, Oct 08: In Indira Gandhi National Open University, re-admission is the process for the students who have not successfully completed his / her Certificate / Diploma / PG Diploma / Bachelor / Master Degree programme within the maximum duration period. The students, who have not completed their programme within the duration of maximum & readmission period, are being allowed to complete their programme with extension of re-admission period. Such students are advised to contact on 03192-242888 / 230111 or email to rcportblair@ignou.ac.in or visit to Regional Centre office, Near Syndicate Bank, Mohanpura, Port Blair, during its working hours. A communication from the IGNOU, Regional Centre, Port Blair said.

Citizens’ Corner 08/10/2020

* Persons, who have lot of money or position, can do anything! Anything means anything like can do encroachment of lands, dealing with drugs, covering the truth, escaping from crimes and many more. Authorities are dealing them with a metal fist 24x7, calling it iron fist.

* Liquor sale business in 'Gumties' is growing like a flower in drought areas. Even, in-lockdown or un-lockdown it runs especially near port areas 'Gumties' sale is like unstoppable and successful business. During lockdown many people have become jobless, money less, but they went for drink to be looted by the Gumties for sake of relaxed kick. Police knows anything or not, don't know.

* Narrow paths in city are the curse for Smart City project of Govt. of India. In our islands, there are many existing colonies in Port Blair city having narrow paths, some are revenue and some are so called old encroachment structures, which occupies the path way. But, when it comes to path way for about 50 individual houses, it has to be vacated and allotted for path way. But, local administration here is dreaming for Smart City and ignoring the Smart deeds.

* Entering COVID-19 infection into the islands is the responsibility of Health Department. Similarly, entering Drug Substance into the islands is the responsibility of Police Department. Despite thermal scanning and using mask, following physical distancing, the virus enters into these islands. Of course, we can't see, touch and find the COVID-19 "Virus". Is the Drug Substances these days modified itself and spreading around Islands like "Virus"?

Human Rights Commission is likely to investigate the matter of scuffle seized between COVID warriors and Director Transport

TMI Bureau

Port Blair, Oct 07: A local NGO SAHYOG has filed a complaint with Human Rights Commission, New Delhi in the issue of scuffle between 13 Nos. COVID-19 warriors and Director Transport, which was reported on Oct 3, 2020 in the evening around 7 pm at Bhatu Basthi Parking area.

Background as per sources: "On Oct 03, 2020 at about 7 pm, the STS bus being used to prevent COVID-19 is parked after the staff of STS noticed some smoke from the Bus at Bhatu Basthi parking area, while coming back from sanitization work. As per report that the Director of Transport who was crossing Bhatu Basthi at the meantime found a bus of STS parked by road side. The DoT got down from his car and entered that bus to understand the reason behind parking of the bus. Sources, said during the clarification, a verbal quarrel look place between DoT and COVID-19 Sanitization staff over unknown matter. It is learnt that the angered DoT slapped a health staff in the bus, where the scuffle begin. If citizens believed, there are many among public near Bathu Basthi parking area also witnessed and involved in scuffle. A case has been registered at PS Pahargaon against the 13 Nos. COVID-19 warriors in that Bus".

However, the Human Rights Commission, New Delhi have accepted & registered the case and about to inquire the matter soon. The NHRC has registered the case vide case number 12/26/4/2020 officially.

There are many including members of SAHYOG NGO, and other general public on the spot are claiming that the first attack was made by the Director of Transport, Dr. Navlendra Singh. The Health Department, however have already refuted the allegation that "Director Transport was attacked by the Health Workers, present in the STS bus used for COVID-19 sanitization works".

Dry Ration distributed by Corporater through NGO 'CLA'

Port Blair, Oct 07: Recently, the Benefactor of the event along with a local NGO, COMPASSIONATE LOVE IN ACTION (CLA) distributed Dry Ration Kits comprising 25 essential commodities to 120 needy families of Auto Drivers who were financially affected during the lockdown due to COVID-19. Mrs. R Dimple, Network Director of ANI News and Advertising Agency honored the occasion. Mrs. R Dimple distributed Sanitizers and Masks along with the Dry Rations to the Vehicle Drivers. The guest praised the efforts taken by Founder Director of CLA Rev. Ernest Rajiv Tadamala, Rev. G. Babu and Mr. Sanjay B. Gollapalli of Vitala Sr. Sec. School for showing such benevolent generosity towards the needy people. They requested the benefactor CORPPORATER to do such charities to more needy people who are struggling hard for their survival. Mrs. R. Dimple immensely thanked and praised this great initiative by CLA and benefactor Corporaters and also requested them to provide more of such relief to many other Islanders who are undergoing severe financial crisis due to shutting down of businesses and unemployment, a communication said.

Special Task Force to check menace of illegal sale of liquor by District Administration

Port Blair, Oct 07: District Administration, South Andaman after unlock-4 has been receiving a lot of complaints from various sources / news articles regarding illegal sale of liquor in South Andaman District. The illegal sale of liquor is prohibited and is a serious offence which attracts, in addition to sealing of premises, imprisonment upto six months alongwith fine as per provisions.

Further the District Administration has also constituted a Special Task Force under the leadership of Excise Officer of concerned Tehsil to conduct raid and check the menace of illegal sale of liquor or illicit liquor.

The District Administration hereby warns the individuals / persons indulged in such illegal activities that the same will be viewed seriously and stern action as deemed fit under Andaman & Nicobar Islands Excise Regulation, 2012 will be initiated.

General public are hereby requested that any information regarding illegal sale of liquor in or around their locality may please inform to the District Control Room No. 1070.

Sathyagraha orgnaised by PCC against rape and murder of a girl in Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh

Port Blair, Oct 07: The Pradesh Congress Committee, Andaman & Nicobar Islands following the directives of AICC, New Delhi in regard to recent incident of rape and murder of a dalit girl belonging to Valmiki Community in Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh, has organised a silent Satyagraha sitting in front of Dr. BR Ambedkar Statue, PBMC Auditorium complex at Port Blair on 5th October, 2020 against the arbitrary and unconstitutional act of the Yogi Adityanath Government in UP and injustice done towards the 19 years old  dalit victim gild and her family.  In this Satyagrah programme, office bearers of the Pradesh Congress Committee, District Congress Committee, Block Congress Committee, Mahila Congress, Youth Congress, Seva Dal, National Student Union, A&N Islands, elected Councillors, Zilla Parishad Members, Pradhans, Panchayat Samities, Panchayat Members, leaders and workers of the Congress Party, Members of INTUS and general public as well were participated. Many senior leaders including Women of the Congress party were spoken during Satyagrah programme by expressing their displeasures on the brazen inhumanity perpetrated on the victim by the culprit and the shameless and unconstitutional act of the Yogi BJP -led government in the Uttara Pradesh who had denied justice to the victim and her family. 

The peaceful protest rally of Satyagraha was started from Gandhi Bhavan on 05.10.2020 at 9.30 AM and after holding Satyagraha programme in front of Dr. BR Ambedkar Statue, PBMC Auditorium from 9.30 AM to 12.00 PM the same was culminated in front of Gandhi Statue, Aberdeen Bazar at 12.15 PM on the same day.  During programme, COVID-19 guidelines / protocol as per Govt. of India and Andaman & Nicobar Administration orders were followed.

Citizens’ Corner 01/10/2020

* This is the time for the Presidents of Political parties, councilors to say "stop the eviction drives during pandemic time" to stock the votes of the citizens. No doubt, during the pandemic they partially have provided grocery items and other needed items to the poor at the time of need, but the intervention in their shelters (new encroachments) is against the interest of islanders, I believe.

* OFC is laid to mean for the betterment of BSNL signals, but unfortunately the BSNL subscribers are facing more difficulties in getting signals than before. The voice calls which are the basic requirement of users is still not fulfilled by the BSNL. The worst condition is at Bambooflat and beyond areas, where can't even see the network in smart mobile phones.

* Proper sanitization is required, as cinema halls 50%, schools to ready to be opened from Oct 15, 2020 as per Unlock 5.0 guidelines. There are still many firms/ organizations are functioning negligently in city without a fear of COVID-19 infection, which may cause further carelessness in future towards COVID-19. Maintaining proper sanitization by following golden principles in the fight against Covid viz: 'Wear Masks Properly' and 'Maintain Social Distancing / Do Gaz Ki Doori' are the only ways.

* The visionary Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, MP, A&N Islands has requests Minister to include A&N Islands under Jal Jeevan Mission and grant Rs.2000 crore to resolve water crisis to ensure timely completion of the Flat Bay Water project under Jal Jeevan Mission to provide relief to the public from water deficit.

Tourism activities restarts in South Andaman district except Little Andaman Island

Port Blair, Sept 30: On the occasion of World Tourism Day, Tourism sector in the Islands received a major boost with Andaman & Nicobar Administration announcing re-opening of Tourism Activities in the Islands. While the Tourism activities have been permitted in South Andaman District (except Little Andaman), other districts will be considered in subsequent phases.

Tourism sector is the fulcrum of the economy of the A&N Islands, on which livelihood of thousands of people depend. However, the tourism activities had been suspended in the Islands, in the wake of outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. With the announcement of 'Unlock' phase by Government of India, various sectors of the economy are being gradually opened up. Accordingly, A&N Administration has decided to permit tourism activities, while prescribing due precautions.

The tourism activities which have been permitted in the first phase include opening of beaches, museums, light & sound show at National Memorial Cellular Jail and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island and water sport activities of boat rides and snorkelling. Other activities like scuba diving, sea walk, parasailing etc. will be considered in the subsequent phases.

The Department of Tourism has prescribed detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for these activities, which need to be followed by all stake holders.  Apart from these SOPs prescribed by Tourism Department, other orders and advisories issued by Govt. of India, other departments of A&N Islands and any other competent authority, as applicable will need to be followed.

In order to kick-start the activities and celebrate World Tourism Day - 2020, cleaning and sanitization drives have been planned on 27th September, 2020 at National Memorial Cellular Jail, Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, and Anthropological Museum in association with Industry Associations. 

It is hoped that with the opening of Tourism sector in the Islands, economic growth will pick up, providing livelihood support to the Islanders.