Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 12: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has strongly raised the issue of long-pending quarry problems in Little Andaman and other regions, which have severely hampered developmental activities and the functioning of Panchayat Samitis.
The Hon’ble MP recalled that until 2018, quarrying at Hut Bay was permitted and materials including moorum were allotted not only to APWD and AHLWD but also to Panchayat Samitis for infrastructure projects under PRIs. However, since 2018, quarry allotment has been completely stopped, forcing Panchayat Samitis to depend on costly imports from Port Blair and mainland, leading to stagnation of projects and lapsing of funds.
He pointed out the disparity where APWD is allowed to prepare estimates as per DSR-2023, while the Engineering Wing of RD/Panchayat is still bound by DSR-2021 due to lack of administrative orders. This anomaly has resulted in cost escalation, lack of contractor participation, and standstill of developmental works.
Highlighting the facts, Shri Ray noted:
– An NGT team and IIT Kharagpur have confirmed the availability of sufficient quarry and moorum reserves in Little Andaman, subject to environmental clearance.
– The Revenue Department has already applied for clearance from the Forest Department, which is still pending.
– Panchayat Samitis have been unable to execute works for the past five years, leading to lapsing of funds and non-submission of UCs.
– Similar problems exist in North & Middle Andaman and Campbell Bay, where quarry allotments have also been discontinued.
The Hon’ble MP further recalled that the Panchayat Samitis were intentionally abolished earlier, and only with the intervention of Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji, their functioning was restored during the 2022 Panchayat elections. However, even after restoration, neither sufficient funds nor adequate administrative support have been extended to PRIs, resulting in all seven Panchayat Samitis remaining ineffective in executing meaningful works.
He termed this situation as a serious lapse on the part of the Administration, stressing that Panchayat Samitis are functioning “only in name” without being able to deliver mandated services under the PRI Regulation. If this continues, he warned, PRI members and functionaries may face embarrassment before the public in the forthcoming elections, despite no fault of their own. Therefore, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray Hon’ble has urged the Administration for urgent intervention as follows:
1. The Revenue/Forest Department must expedite environmental clearance and immediately restore quarry allotments to Panchayat Samitis in Little Andaman and other regions.
2. The RD/Panchayat Department must be directed to adopt the prevailing DSR in force, as followed by APWD, to ensure uniformity and smooth execution of projects without cost escalation.
The MP emphasized that this issue requires immediate resolution in the larger public interest, as developmental works under PRIs and the welfare of islanders have been held up for more than five years.