Port Blair, March 16: The Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Chief Secretary of Andaman & Nicobar Administration to reopen the Hutbay Quarry as soon as possible so that quarry materials become easily available in Little Andaman Island for the development in the island. Opening up of quarry will also ensure employment for the local youth, he said.

The Member of Parliament also requested to issue earth cutting permission for private works in Little Andaman Island so that people who are in genuine need of earth, can arrange the same from the Island.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary the Member of Parliament mentioned that the Quarry at Hutbay area of Little Andaman Island was closed by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration nearly a year ago. Closure of the Quarry has brought a bagful of troubles for the residents of Little Andaman Island as lots of construction works have been delayed and many development works could not be taken up in the Island.

He mentioned that due to the Covid-19 pandemic the residents of Little Andaman Island have suffered heavily along with the people of the rest of our country and when the third wave is over and Covid-19 cases are minimum, residents of Little Andaman are unable to take up construction works because of non-availability of Quarry materials. Because of the above reasons a lot of daily rated workers are also not getting employment in the Little Andaman Island.

He further pointed out that earth cutting permission for private works is not being issued in Little Andaman Island, whereas for government works the same permission is issued by the Administration. Because of this, crucial works in private land viz. land filling, blocking ingress of water in farmland, retaining wall construction works etc. could not be taken up by the public.

The Member of Parliament added that in remote Islands like Little Andaman bringing earth from other parts of the Islands is next to impossible and hence earth cutting permission is required.