Bairagi Writes to Lt. Governor and DCSA

Port Blair, Oct. 30: COVID-19 cases in our country has been reducing but since a few Islands of our Union Territory are witnessing a spike in number of cases the A & N Administration has completely stalled the inter-island shipping services.

Intervening in the matter, the State President BJP, Ajoy Bairagi has written to the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and to the Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman District requesting them to resume the shipping services between various Islands in South and North & Middle Andaman District.

The inter-Island shipping services from Port Blair to Shaheed Dweep, Swaraj Dweep and Rangat has also been stalled and there has been no sailings in the sector since many days. This has been causing immense difficulties to the farmers, vegetable growers and vendors, milk vendors, students and the general public, said Bairagi.

He also informed that he has been receiving several calls from Shaheed Dweep where people inform that tonnes of vegetables are getting spoiled and are being thrown away because of non-availability of shipping services. Shaheed Dweep is one of the largest vegetable producing areas of the Islands and a large quantity of milk is also exported from the area to other Islands.

Bairagi strongly suggested that economic activities should not be restricted in this manner. There are also a large number of patients who need immediate medical treatment are stuck at the respective Islands because of non-availability of shipping services.

Mentioning that the Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs in its guidelines has stated clearly that there shall not be any restriction on inter/intra state movement of people, Bairagi requested the authorities to resume the shipping services without any further delay.