*The Light of Andamans :: Vol 32 :: Issue 01 :: 30 December 2006*
Dus Saal Baad: Down Inferno Lane Babu Lane was ablaze while the people
watched helplessly, but it appears that despite such horrific incidents, the
administration are yet to learn their lessons.



December 28, 1996—the last Saturday of the year—people enjoy the festive
season. Businessmen had a hectic day and the engagement was not yet over.
Ships were unloading cargo; labourers stacking goods in godowns— Babu
Lanehad a large number of godowns that stocked the materials of nearly
every
major trader. Past 10 pm, a small cloud of smoke was seen emerging from the
godown of A.K. Thangavelu at Babu Lane Junction opposite Ganesh temple.
There was a fire.

Within a few minutes, a ball of fire lept towards the sky. Fire tenders
reached instantly. The fire was almost under control when the fire tenders
ran out of water. Backup arrived too late. By the time fire tenders could
return with more water, the fire had turned into an inferno. The fire had
spread to the surrounding buildings. In no time, Somu Studio across the
street was on fire—effectively sealing the entrance to Babu Lane.

There was nothing the firemen could do. Naval Fire Service was
requisitioned. They fought valiantly along with the local fire department.
But Babu Lane had to be written off simply because the road met with a dead
end. There was no way in.

About two dozen wooden buildings crammed either side of Babu Lane — all over
half a century old and bone dry. It was virtually powder keg waiting for it
to happen. It took less than an hour to char the entire area.

The firemen were working furiously to salvage whatever they could on
the Maulana
Azad Road between Babu Lane junction and Mohanpura. Late Haji Alvi's RCC
building proved a buffer and the forces succeeded in containing it there.

On the right side the entire lane from the entrance to Netaji Hall, to the
end of Babu Lane was gutted in fire. The historical Netaji Hall of the Local
Born Association was also one of the historic buildings consumed by the
fire.

Ten years down the line, it is pertinent to look back if the city fathers,
the citizens and the administration have learnt any lessons from such
devastating fire accidents.


Brace for Assembly: Bhakta While revealing his priority for employment
generation over safety of lives, Bhakta holds his breath for the fate of the
assembly, slated to be revealed in one month's time



By Staff Reporter



Port Blair: In his first press conference in a decade, Manoranjan Bhakta,
the lone Member of Parliament from A&N Islands bared all to media persons on
Sunday December 24, 2006. Briefing the press he explained that the
Parliamentary Committee attached to the Home Ministry is expected to submit
its much awaited report.

Within a month's time the Home Ministry would have submitted its action
taken report at which time the fate of the assembly will finally unravel.
"Until then we have to keep our fingers crossed," says Bhakta.

Bhakta maintained that he was not consulted on the issue of permanent
shelters. "Just sitting in some meeting doesn't mean I was consulted," he
said. Responding to questions about the non-payment of wages of Forest
Corporation workers and employees, he said Rs 19 crore was sanctioned to the
corporation to meet its urgent financial needs. He further said the
corporation would have to revise its activities to make it financially
viable. Tata Consultancy Services was retained to recommend the future
course of action in that direction. Some workers will be given VRS and
activities diversified to infuse new life into the corporation.

Contrary to the policy of the UPA Government, Bhakta advocated more
employment of labour under the departments as against contract system now
adopted by the APWD and other major departments.

"Thirty quarry operators had come to me and I took them to the DC to ensure
that the quarries were not closed. It would have affected the heavy
construction works in progress," points out Bhakta. It was insinuated that
Rs 10 lakh had changed hands to get the work done.

"My credentials are above board. I did get the quarry work done. Rest, I
don't know," he said. However, it is reported that each of the quarry
operator had contributed Rs 50,000 for the work.

Corbyn's Cove and Prothroepur areas have over 30 quarries in about 3 sqkm
area. It has made life impossible for the residents of the locality. The
matter had been taken up with the authorities to close down the quarries in
public interest. But the MP's influence over the administration against that
of the people's was overwhelming. He refused to comment on relocating the
quarries that would have ensured progress of work as well as a safer life
for the residents. He further refused to comment about the induction of more
and more DANICS officers into the administration, to the detriment of local
officers' interests.


Lacklustre second tsunami anniversary



By Staff Reporter



Port Blair: Floral tributes were paid to those who lost their lives in 2004
earthquake and tsunami on December 26, 2006 at 6.20 AM at Water Sports
Complex, Aberdeen Jetty. Chief Secretary, Shumsher K Shariff was the first
to pay his tributes followed by Manoranjan Bhakta, Member of Parliament.
Others followed them. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, S. Regupathy
arrived when the all-religion prayers were going on. He was accompanied by
K. Krishnan Member, PBMC.

The attendance on the occasion was sparse. The chairperson PBMC and Adhyaksh
Zilla Parishad and the members of these two local bodies were conspicuous by
their absence. Very few officers, other than those connected with the
programme, could be seen at the venue.

Lucas Robert was probably the only Nicobari present at Water Sports Complex.
He however was on duty being the head of the office of Sports & Cultural
Affairs.

Rahul Bose, the famous movie star and convenor of The Foundation, a newly
formed NGO working in the islands had flown down from Mumbai for the
occasion.

"Why go through the motion if we don't feel any empathy with those who died
on the day two years back" said a jogger who had joined in out of curiosity.



Flagrant violation of building bylaws **
*By Govindaraju *

After the devastating fire accident of December 28, 1996, Babu Lane has
sprung back. The skyline has changed from a bevy of wooden buildings to RCC
buildings of various designs, types and sizes. Only a few disputed plots of
land are lying vacant.

During the massive earthquake of 2004 the residents of these buildings had
to contend with more than the rumblings going on inside the earth. The beams
of the buildings were rubbing against those of the adjacent buildings
creating frightening noises.

Adversities create opportunities for correcting the past mistakes too. The
fire accident should have been used to develop the area in such a fashion
that in future any natural disaster would be tackled in a scientific way to
minimise the loss and damages.

But the agencies responsible to ensure such a scheme of things missed the
opportunity totally. There was a plan to connect Babu Lane to Mohanpura
through a road passing through the properties of the Jadwets or the Meshacks
at the end of the road. But during reconstruction, this aspect was ignored.
As a result, Babu Lane still ends in a blind alley. Any future calamity
would present the same problems as was experienced in 1996, maybe, even
more.

One thing that the administration did attend to was widening of the road. To
compensate for the land taken for road widening, the Deputy Commissioner had
granted exemption from the standard set back from the centre of the road.
Other than that no dispensation was granted to the plot owners.

But the buildings that came up after the fire accident violate every single
specification mandated by the Building Bye Laws of the Port Blair Municipal
Council. The glaring violation is the side set back between two buildings.
Every building must leave a clear set back of one metre each on either side
and also at the back. That leaves an open space of two metres between two
buildings – good enough for firemen and rescue personnel to move freely in
cases of emergency. But a cursory glance is enough for anyone to convince
that no such space exists.

The staircases, fire escapes, sizes of main doors, corridors every single
specification stands violated. The Port Blair Municipal Council is a mute
spectator of such violations.

There are stringent provisions for stoppage of work and demolition of
portion that violate the approved plan. But the Bye Laws are observed more
in its breach than execution.


Councillors encourage violations?



By Staff Reporter



Port Blair: Speaking to LOA, Mohammed, Secretary, PBMC expressed his
helplessness in enforcing the Building Bye Laws without the active
cooperation and support of the council. "Whenever action is proposed against
serious violations, the council asks for compilation of all such cases and
the matter goes back on back burner" Said Mohammed. He advised us to talk to
Jaya Kumar, Junior Architect for further information.

The Inspection and Enforcement wing of the Engineering Department comprises
of one Building Inspector and one draughtsman. It is humanly impossible to
keep an eye on all the 18 wards with just two employees without any support
staff.

"Before starting the actual construction, the owner must inform the council,
as per rule. Nobody does that" lamented Jaya Kumar.

Building Bye Laws have become a butt of joke in Port Blair. Even after six
or seven notices, the erring builders carry on with their constructions with
impunity. Majority of councillors do not have the vision of a beautiful,
well laid out town where all the services are available to the people
without any risk. They are more interested in protecting their protégés for
obvious reasons.

"There are buildings coming up on drains and hume pipes. We can't do
anything" said Jaya Kumar.

Deputy Commissioner is the appellate authority in the dispute over building
bye laws. Over half a dozen cases are pending before him. Almost all the
cases belong to well connected political entities of all hues. Naturally,
the DC is sitting tight on those cases.

"We are capable of setting right every single violation in a month's time.
But the councillors must support us whole heartedly" concluded Mohammed.


2006 through the eyes of LoA



JANUARY



Ø Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits A&N Islands. He is not allowed
to meet the people. Even a civic reception to the PM is denied.

Ø Deputy Commissioner KS Singh gheraoed at Hut Bay

Ø Sanjit Das, a class X student wins Rs 10,000 prize for his essay
"Conservation & Global Warming conducted by Petroleum Conservation Research
Association

Ø Sick New Born Baby unit inaugurated in GB Pant Hospital.



FEBRUARY



Ø AIEEE creates flutter amongst students and parents alike.

Ø Prof. Ram Kapse moved to Chennai for specialized treatment on Feb 03
following a fall in his bathroom.

Ø Earthquake measuring 6.00 on Richter scale rocks Andaman Islands

Ø Port Blair Municipality plunges into crisis. February 12 fixed for
consideration of no-confidence motion

Ø No-confidence motion against Zubaida Begum of Congress carried with
overwhelming majority.

Ø 53 Arakanese captured from Barren Island on a tip off from a passing
yacht

Ø Fire breaks out in a building behind Police Mosque on February 21. No
loss of life or major disaster.



MARCH



Ø Quick response team constituted to fight Bird Flu.

Ø Shumsher K Shariff takes over as the Chief Secretary

Ø No-confidence motion in PBMC boomerangs. Notices served on 12
councillors for having failed to file assets declaration in time.

Ø Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners Fraternity Circle demands National
Family Status for the families of those imprisoned in Cellular jail during
British regime.

Ø Two Polytechnic lecturers issued HAM radio license

Ø Manoranjan Bhakta says 'Freedom fighter status to Moplahs and others
long overdue'



April



Ø Birchgunj awaits environmental disaster due to excessive quarry
operations

Ø International Convention of Amateur Radio Operators held at Port
Blair on 15th under the aegis of National Institute of Amateur Radio,
Hyderabad.

Ø Nancowry Hospital gets ultra-sound machine on April 22

Ø IGNOU sets up Regional Centre

Ø Hallmark made compulsory for gold jewellery from April 01, 2007


Ø Flat Bay scam reopened.



MAY



Ø Rural areas face blackout after a blast in Surya Chakra Power Plant
on 6th

Ø Cyclone Mala plays havoc in North Andaman

Ø Police selects over 60 sub inspectors and assistant sub inspectors in
a corruption free selection process

Ø Dilleshwar Rao, CPA arrested for corruption and remanded to judicial
custody

Ø Neem cake causes diarrhoea in Kamorta

Ø Anthony Appa, Dilleshwar Rao's bete noir found murdered.



JUNE



Ø Arpit Roy tops class XII CBSE exams without tuition

Ø Need for the third front mooted by the local unit of CPI(M)

Ø Tourism separated from Information & Publicity on June 24



JULY



Ø Tribal pass racket busted. Massive manhunt for Bangladeshis start.

Ø Angry mob threaten boat master in Campbell Bay

Ø Noose tighten against those living in Nicobar district without a
valid tribal pass



AUGUST



Ø 'Job against cash' in Health Department busted.

Ø Sarju Lal, a veteran stage artist of the islands breathes his last on
Aug. 12

Ø In a spate of road accidents, Ayushi, a six old girl dies after
fighting for life for three days

Ø Shumsher K Shariff, Chief Secretary hoists the national flag in the
absence of Lt. Governor


Ø Squall causes major power disruption

Ø Surya Chakra Power Corporation suffers diesel shortage

Ø The third district of A&N Islands, North & Middle Andaman District,
comes into being on August 18

Ø Five members of Port Blair Municipal Council disqualified. Victims
fear political manipulation

Ø Chowra Island gets more power through a new temporary power house on
Sep 02

Ø Jarawas strike back with a vengeance nLivelihood resource Centre of
CEFI, New Delhi holds a seminar on the potentials of the islands


Ø Disqualified councillors get stay order from Calcutta High Court

Ø Chikungunya turns to epidemic proportion

Ø Heavy rains flood the low lying areas of Port Blair town

Ø Postal department holds Philatelic Exhibition

Ø R. Chidambaram elected Adhyaksh Zilla Parishad as expected.



OCTOBER



Ø Cholera stalks the town

Ø LPG supply deficient




NOVEMBER



Ø Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Commerce visits isles

Ø Bhaskar Bhattacharyya, Director of Mines Safety, Dhanbad, dies of
drowning at Radhanagar beach in Havelock

Ø Union Minister of State for Social Welfare, Subbulakshmi visits isles

Ø Traffic Management considers suspension of driving license of those
involved in road accident

Ø 53rd All India Cooperative Week celebrated with great gusto.

Ø Supreme Court Judge, Justice Chatterji, taken ill at seminar

Ø Police resorts to lathicharge on agitators at Hut Bay, construction
work of permanent shelter suspended.



DECEMBER



Ø Sher Singh elected Chairman of Port Blair Municipal Council amidst a
major political realignment

Ø Bharat Nirman Dweep Vikas organised by PIB, Port Blair at
Wimberlyganj proves a much bigger draw than expected

Ø Janak Digal cornered in Farmers' meet at Bharat Nirman Dweep Vikas at
Wimberlyganj

Ø MV Chuglam, a highly deficient cargo vessel joins the shipping fleet


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