Port Blair, Nov. 2: Naval Ship Repair Yard, Port Blair, the largest Industrial Establishment of Andaman & Nicobar Command, is all set to celebrate its 39th Raising Day on 12 Nov 12. From a modest beginning as a Base Repair Organisation in 1973, the Yard has metamorphosed into a full-fledged Ship Repair Yard on 12 Nov 1993 and this day is celebrated as the Yard’s Raising Day every year.

As a part of the 39th Anniversary of the Raising Day, the Yard has planned various public outreach and environmental programmes. The programmes of this year include Trekking-cum-Anti Plastic Awareness Drive to Mount Harriet, an Evening with Elderly at Govt Old Age Home, Farargunj, Harbour Cruise, and Visit to the Floating Dock Navy by School Children.

The curtain-raiser event to kick-off NSRY Week Celebrations was conducted on 28 Oct 12. In a fine display of their commitment to mother nature, all personnel of the Yard and their families, including small children and senior citizens assembled at Naval Jetty at 0530 hours on 28 Oct 12 and proceeded  to Bamboo Flat by FC Manoram.

On landing at Bamboo Flat, ‘Team NSRY’ organized themselves into small groups to pick up plastic waste enroute to Mount Harriet. The idea was to drive home the message of not letting the plastic damage the ecology of the beautiful Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The spirit of the team to pick up more plastic than the other trekkers was very evident. With young members of the teams incisively searching for plastic covers, bottles, wrappers etc.

During the interaction with the families of the Yard on completion of the event at Mount Harriet, the Commodore Superintendent of the Yard brought out the need to take care of the environment by responsible disposal of non-biodegradable waste. He further stressed on the Yard Families to reduce the dependence on plastic till we reach a point where we are banish plastic from our domestic lives. The Commodore went on to impress upon his team that all personnel should leave only positive footprints on the pristine  beaches of the Islands.

The Commodore Superintendent conveyed his special thanks to Dr Senthil Kumar, DCF(Wild Life Div), Shri CA Rehman, DFO and Shri SK Bhandari, CCF(Chatham Territory) for their cooperation in organizing the event.