Port Blair, Oct. 30: Highlighting some of the crucial issues of Car Nicobar Island, the Member of Parliament of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands to resolve the long pending grievances of Tribal Council, Car Nicobar.
In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, the Member of Parliament mentioned that during his recent visit to Car Nicobar Island, he interacted with the representatives of Tribal Council and during meeting, the members of Tribal Council presented many grievances urging him to take up the issues with the Government and A&N Administration.
Based on the demands the Member of Parliament highlighted following issues:
Construction of Sea Protection Wall at Mus/around the Island:
The Member of Parliament mentioned that the aftermath of earthquake/Tsunami struck these Islands, the soil erosion is taking place at fast pace around the Mus break Water as well as at Tee-Top and Sawai Coastal areas which need to be checked by erection of Sea Protection Wall in a phase manner at the earliest.
Air/Sea connectivity:
Car Nicobar being an Island, Sea and Air connectivity are the only modes of transport. Earlier the Indian Airline Flights were operated during the year 1985 but discontinued. Again in the Year 2016 Alliance Air flight once a week had started but the same was stopped during the year 2017.
The Member of Parliament requested to re- start the Air connectivity, which will be helpful to the Tribal brothers and sisters, Government Servants serving in the District and most of all for evacuation of ailing patients. Likewise sea Connectivity to be rescheduled at least twice a week to augment the existing Pawan Hans sortie where seats are limited and unaffordable to the Tribal brothers and sisters. New ships like M.V. Sindhu, M.V. Nalanda may touch Car Nicobar Port via Hut Bay while going for Campbell Bay.
Health Department:
The Member of Parliament added that the Bishop John Richardson Hospital is the District Hospital in Car Nicobar but due to non-availability of proper health care facilities, the tribal peoples including others are facing tremendous hardships for getting treatment in the hospital.
He highlighted the issue of shortage of staff like Nursing Officer, Matron, ANMs, X-ray technician, Lab Technician, Lady Health Visitors, Drivers etc.
The MP also demanded that the Dialysis Unit be started at the earliest and made functional and re-establishment of the Blood Bank unit in the District Hospital.
Education Department:
The Member of Parliament pointed out that altogether there are 14 Schools in Car Nicobar the Island, of which there are 03 Senior Secondary School, 04 Secondary School, 02 Middle School and 05 Primary School. However, due to absence of basic infrastructures, the students are facing hardship while getting education in the schools.
He highlighted shortage of furniture such as Benches/Desk in all Schools and mentioned that roofing of Govt. Sec school at Kakana needs to be replaced/repaired.
He demanded Posting of Principal/Vice Principal/Headmistress in the schools and posting of Maths and Science Teachers.
The Member of Parliament also demanded posting of PGT (Computer Science), Fine Arts, Physical Education and Physics Teachers in GSSS Lapathy and repair of toilets in all Schools.
APWD (Road Sector/Drinking water):
The Member of Parliament demanded for posting of a regular Executive Engineer and filling up of existing Vacant Post and repair and maintenance of existing internal (rural road) from Chuckchucha to Mus Village.
He also demanded repair/maintenance of old existing rural road now called State Highway from Arong up to Kakana village and reconstruction of RCC Bridge in place of the Collapsed Bailey bridge at Old Kimious village, as most of the plantation of Villagers exist there and due collapse of the bridge, their easy movement has been disrupted.
The MP also demanded improvement of water supply in all the villages by replacing old rusted pipe lines.
Electricity Department:
The Member of Parliament pointed out that frequent power interruption especially during monsoon is occurring due to old Cables, hence new Cables are required to be laid as replacement.
He also demanded filling up of existing vacant posts in Car Nicobar Division since due to non-filling up of vacant posts, there are workloads over the existing staff owing to which, disposal of various complaints on account of line faults etc. are getting delayed.
Fisheries Department:
The Member of Parliament pointed out that all the outboard engines issued by the Department to the fishermen runs on Kerosene oil, due to non-availability of kerosene oil, the fishermen are unable to venture into sea and this affects their livelihood.
Permanent Shelter:
The Member of Parliament demanded procurement of a Sewage Suction cleaner Truck to clean up the Septic tanks in all 4000 Permanent Shelters with Bathrooms as it is overflowing posing Health hazards.
BSNL (Network connectivity):
He pointed out that BSNL connectivity signal and internet data depend on power supply by Electricity Department, as they don’t have power back up facility, due to which students and villagers from Chukchucha to Sawai (08 villages) are not able to use the internet data facilities. He demanded to create battery backup facilities in the Car Nicobar to avoid internet interruption.