Sri Vijaya Puram, July 14: CPI (M) has taken up various issues of the people of Katchal Island with the appropriate authorities for redressal. In a letter sent to the Director of Transport, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) requested the Transport Department to send sufficient number of STS buses to Katchal Island for the convenience of the people there without any further delay. It was reported to the CPI (M) that only one STS bus is available for service in the Katchal Island. Out of the two buses available with the Transport Department in Katchal Island, one is under major repair and cannot be put into service in the near future. The only STS bus is plying from Marine jetty to other areas when the speed boat is arriving from Kamorta. Sometimes, school trips are also disrupted due to non-availability of STS bus.
Ayyappan has further brought to the notice of the Director of Transport that a few private vehicles making passenger services in the Katchal Island are squeezing the people, charging exorbitant fare even for short distance. He further stated that demand for deploying more STS buses in Katchal Island was delat with in a casual manner by the Transport Department. Boat passengers, patients going to hospital, students and teachers, workers and general public of Katchal Island are put to unexplainable hardship due to the unfavourable attitude of the Transport Department, CPI (M) Secretary stated in the letter.
By another letter addressed to Shri PG Paul, Retd DANICS, Chairman, A & N State Cooperative Bank Ltd., CPI (M) Secretary urged him to send sufficient number of currency notes to Katchal Island through Pawan Hans Helicopter service without any delay as there is acute shortage of currency notes in the Katchal Island during these days. CPI (M) Secretary told the Chairman, State Cooperative Bank Ltd. that the only Bank functioning in the Katchal Island is the Branch of A & N State Cooperative Bank. CPI (M) Secretary informed the Chairman, Coop Bank that the people of Katchal are facing difficulties due to shortage of currency notes in the State Coop Branch at Katchal. The ATM installed by the State Coop Bank at Katchal recently is also not functioning for the last few days due to non-availability of cash.
CPI (M) urged the Chairman to look into this matter personally.