Political parties say Andaman administration neglected real cyclone victims

Did the administration give sufficient attention to the people of North and Middle Andaman, political leaders wonder.
Political parties say Andaman administration neglected real cyclone victims

PORT BLAIR: Though cyclone Vardah has moved away from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it has left behind serious questions over the style of functioning of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. 

Political leaders and the public are now questioning whether the Administration had focused too much on evacuating tourists rather than thinking about the people of North and Middle Andaman, who witnessed flood-like situations. In addition, farmers in the region suffered losses due to the heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, at Port Blair top officials were seen busy receiving evacuated tourists with flowers and taking photographs with them. Even press releases issued by the Andaman Administration focused primarily on the evacuation of tourists from Havelock and Neil Island, where tourists did not face any threat of flooding.

“This is sad that evacuation of tourists was more important to the Administration than looking after the people of North and Middle Andaman, who suffered heavy losses because of Vardah cyclone. Still there is no indication that when farmers will get suitable compensation,” said Sanjay Meshak, the convener of Aam Aadmi party’s Andaman unit. 

After the formation of cyclone weather over Andaman and Nicobar Islands since 7 December, there was pressure on the Andaman and Nicobar Administration after some reports in national news channels wrongly questioned whether the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are sinking, thus creating panic among tourists and their relatives in mainland India.

Perhaps due to these media reports, hardly any reference to the damages suffered by the residents of North and Middle Andaman was found in Andaman’s media releases. Even the government-run newspaper in Andaman focused prominently on the tourist evacuation efforts.

“There was no threat to tourists in Havelock or Neil Island as it was showcased in media reports. The prime focus of A & N Administration should have been towards people of North and Middle Andaman, where there was actual crisis,” Mr. B Chandrachoodan, the General Secretary of CITU, A & N Andaman told media today.

While expressing his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Lt. Governor of A & N Islands, the Administration and to ANC for making special efforts for evacuation of tourists stranded at Havelock and Neil islands, the Pradesh Congress Committee has invited the attention of the Lt. Governor towards the problems of the farmers of these islands and demanded appropriate compensation to the farmers for the losses sustained by them due to heavy rain and cyclone.

“Heavy down pour since 5/12/2016 and cyclone storm Vardah led to water logging, flooding in different parts of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The farmers of the islands are the worst affected as their paddy crops were submerged due to heavy rain and badly damaged. Similarly fruit bearing trees such as areca nut, coconut etc were uprooted by the cyclone storm Vardah at different areas all over the island. The farmers have sustained heavy loss due to heavy down pour and cyclone storm. In certain villages heavy damages have caused to their dwelling units and their live stocks, vegetables have also been vanished in the flooding. The farmers are in miserable condition and are in urgent need for help,” said Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, the president of Andaman’s Pradesh Congress Committee, in a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor.

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