Port Blair, Feb 21: The CPI (M) has expressed serious concern over the lack of initiative on the part of the central government and Andaman and Nicobar Administration to attract tourists to these islands.   In a  letter  addressed to the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee, while referring to the issue of  keeping the toilets  closed in the Passenger Hall at Middle Strait,  said that while other States/UTs on the mainland are providing all the facilities for visiting tourists, even way-side facilities to answer call of nature for the tourists visiting such a distsant place  like Middle Strait from the town are not provided by the Administration.

In his letter CPI (M) Secretary brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary that during his visit to Baratang on 18 – 19 February, 2024, he had observed that the toilets (both women and men) in the Passenger Hall at Middle Strait maintained by the Port Management Board are kept closed. Hundreds of tourists and islanders are passing through the Middle Strait daily and keeping the toilets closed is creating considerable inconvenience to them.  

He further said that on inquiry, it has come to know that the toilets are kept closed for the last several days and no alternative arrangement has been made for the toilet facility at Middle Strait by the authorities concerned. Being a tribal reserve area, no private agency is allowed to provide such facility at Middle Strait.  

Ayyappan said that this type of negligence on the part of the Administration will have an adverse impact on the tourist flow to these islands, in addition to the inconvenience being faced by local commutors. The tourist flow presently has already become at its lowest due to lack of any positive steps in this regard by the central government and A & N Administration.  

CPI (M) Secretary urged the Chief Secretary to look into this matter and direct the authorities concerned in the Administration to provide all possible facilities to tourists including toilet facilities at Middle Strait and other tourist places in these islands.   He further urged the Chief Secretary that any kind of negligence on the part of the authorities in providing facilities to visiting tourists should be dealt with strictly.