Andaman and Nicobar Administration

Directorate of IP&T

Information & Publicity Division

 

 

Port Blair July 18, 2014

 

 

 

Press Release

 

 

 

 

LG expresses condolence; orders inquiry

into allegations of medical negligence

 

        Port Blair: July 18: Hon’ble L.G has ordered the constitution of an independent medical board to look into allegations of medical negligence, and also ordered an administrative enquiry into the death of late Shri Swapan Bepari at G.B. Pant Hospital on 17.7.2014.  Late Shri. Swapan Bepari was admitted to the GB Pant Hospital on 16.7.2014 and was diagnosed to be suffering from Guillian Barre Syndrome (Acute Flaccid Ascending Paralysis).  Later on 17.4.2014, he died due to respiratory failure.   The relatives of the patient were upset on his sudden demise and alleged negligence by doctors and staff in GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair.  As per direction of Hon’ble LG, Commissioner-cum-Secretary(Health) and Secretary to LG, apart from other officers such as DC, South Andaman and Superintendent of Police, South Andaman  visited the hospital to ascertain the circumstances of the case.  Police is investigating the matter.   Hon’ble L.G has ordered the constitution of an independent medical board to enquire into the charge of medical negligence.

 

        Late Shri. Swapan Bepari was Jail Warden at District Jail, Prothrapur. The Hon’ble LG has conveyed his deepest condolences on the demise of late Shri. Swapan Bepari and has directed the Director General of Police and Inspector General of Prisons to render all assistance to the family of late Shri. Swapan Bepari.  IG(Prisons) along with DC, North & Middle Andaman rendered assistance to the family of the deceased for transportation to Rangat and in  making arrangements for last rites.  

 

        Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health) directed the DHS to ensure prompt and empathetic response by the staff to the patient and their relatives.  Smt. Rupa Ray, W/o Hon’ble Member of Parliament was also present in the hospital. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Civil Aviation Conference on Air connectivity

 

        Port Blair, July 18: A Civil Aviation Conference to discuss various issues related to air connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar Islands was held at New Delhi on 18^th July, 2014.   The Conference was chaired by Shri Anand Prakash, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration in presence of Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Shri Anil Srivastava, Joint Secretary and CMD of Pawan Hans, Shri Alok Sinha, Chairman, AAI and Shri Mohan Jeet Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Civil Aviation, A&N Administration.  The Conference was attended   by Sr. Executives of Air India, Alliance Air, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Go Air, Air Costa, Air Asia, Club Air, A.R. Airways and the President and members of  Andaman Chamber of Commerce  & Industries.

 

        While welcoming the participants to the conference, the Chief Secretary informed that the Hon’ble Lt. Governor was very keen to attend this conference, as being so important. However, due to some other sudden urgent occupation he is unable to attend the conference. The Chief Secretary thereafter opened the meeting and highlighted the prevailing issue of high air fare on mainland - Island sector and prospects for increasing the frequency of flights to Port Blair and developing international connectivity. He specifically requested the Air India to come forward and reduce the airfare, as being the national carrier and similarly, other airlines should also to rationalize the fare. He further informed that with a view to provide affordable air travel to the Islanders, the A & N Administration is in the process of operating chartered flights. But, the tender floated by the Administration in the past could not get any response from the airlines. He informed that the tender will be floated again shortly and requested the airlines to participate in the tender so that the much needed services can be put on place to benefit the Islanders. Hon’ble Member of Parliament gave a brief back ground of A&N Islands and highlighted the importance of the Islands from historic point of view. He requested the airlines to relook into the fare structure on Port Blair sector and bring down the air fare to an affordable limit, as the Islander are often required to travel to mainland for various social and medical urgencies. He informed that the aviation fuel is very cheap in Port Blair as compared to the price in mainland.  The benefits the Airlines get on this account should be passed on to the traveler.  He also highlighted the significance of international connectivity to Port Blair for promotion of Tourism and economic development of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.  

 

        Shri Alok Sinha, Chairman, Airport Authority of India (AAI) highlighted the developmental initiatives taken by AAI and said that the construction work of new integrated terminal building is on priority list of AAI.  Foundation stone for the building will be laid in August 2014 and the target set for completion of the work is 48 months. He further informed that AAI has already taken up the work for installation of glide path for the instrument landing system at the Airport and after required earth cutting and leveling of the ground, the equipment will be installed and commissioned in three months time from completion of earth cutting work.

 

        Thereafter, Shri Mohan Jeet Singh, Commissioner-cum- Secretary, Civil Aviation made a Power Point Presentation covering various civil aviation issues like Air connectivity to Port Blair, rationalization of airfare on mainland island sector, developing international connectivity from Port Blair, Air connectivity to other places in India, construction of new terminal building at Airport, night landing facility at Port Blair and modernization of fleet of helicopters. During the presentation the Go Air was specifically asked to give reasons for suspension of their flights between Kolkata-Port Blair and Chennai-Port Blair w.e.f 15.6.2014 and 30.6.2014 respectively. The Commissioner, Civil Aviation further informed that during 2007-08 there were about 11 to 13 flights per day to Port Blair. During this period the tourism in Andaman was on its peak. As regards to airfare offered on Port Blair sector, the airlines were requested to fix an upper cap for the fare and the fare band offered on this sector should be shared with A & N Administration. Also the airline should inform the number of seats offered in each bucket starting from Low fare to high fare and the low fare seats to be given to Administration for offering it to the Islanders. It was also brought out that the Administration has made arrangement through ANIIDCO for buying of low fare seats from the airlines in advance for issuing it to the islanders. But only, Go Air and Jet airways have responded to the proposal and other airlines are yet to respond. Further, the airlines were informed about the tourism venture in Andamans by major players like Taj Group and CGHS, which will give a fillip to tourism in coming years.  Shri. Kamal Kikani, Vice president of Go air informed that the suspension of flights during monsoon was purely a technical decision due to prevailing high tail winds. He further, informed that as part of incentive to Islanders, they have already introduced islanders fare between Port Blair - Chennai and Port Blair - Kolkata Sector. Under this facility, an Islander can avail 30% discount on the basic airfare.  Other Airlines like Spice jet, Jet Airways and Air India have assured that they will also explore the feasibility to provide similar kind of fare concession to the Islanders. Further, the Airlines assured that they will explore the feasibility of introducing International flights and commencement of night operation to Port Blair after the necessary safety risk assessment in consultation with DGCA.  The Airlines like Air Asia, Air Costa and Club air have also shown their interest towards introducing flight services to Port Blair. While Shri Anil Srivastava, CMD of Pawan Hans has assured to replace the existing helicopters with the latest State -of - the - art Dauphin AS 365 N3 Helicopters.

 

 

 

 

Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Shri B P Ray, Chief Secretary, Shri Anand Prakash addressing a Civil Aviation conference

on air connectivity at New Delhi. Representatives of all airlines attended the meeting.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prativa Utsav-2014

 

        The Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata Government of India is going to organize “Prativa Utsav-2014” at Patna from 2^nd - 4^th August 2014. EZCC has requested the Department of Art and Culture, A&N Administration to select two young talented artistes, State or National Scholarship holder from A&N Islands in the field of folk and classical Dance and Music to perform during the festival. Each artist shall be allowed for a maximum 6 Nos. of accompanists for live performance and in the case of performance with recorded music one accompanist will be allowed. The selected artistes shall be paid to & fro travelling expenses by air in Port Blair-Kolkata sector and train journey between Kolkata and Patna. Remuneration as per EZCC norms shall also be paid to the artists.

 

        In this regard, Department of Art and Culture invites applications from the eligible young talented artists before 23^rd July 2014. More information in this regard can be obtained over phone No.230117. Application can also be faxed to No. 232637.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One arrested for taking bribe

 

        Continuing its tryst in showing zero tolerance for corruption, a team of Anti-Corruption Unit arrested a Revenue Field Assistant, Shri Ganesh Kachap on 17/07/2014 for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 3000/- for addition of missing names on the joint mutation of complainant’s ancestral landed property at Haddo village.

 

        On 17/07/2014 a written complaint was submitted by the complainant that Ganesh Kachap working at the Office of Tehsildar Port Blair was demanding Rs. 3000/- as bribe for adding missing names on the joint mutation of his ancestral landed property at Haddo village. Subsequently, FIR under relevant section of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered at PS Anti- Corruption and a trap laying team comprising of independent witnesses was formed. Later, on receipt of pre-identified signal at 1330 hrs from the complainant at the Office of Tehsildar Port Blair, the trap team intercepted Ganesh Kachap and caught him red handed with the tainted bribe money of Rs. 3000/-. After observing all codal formalities, the accused was arrested from the spot and was brought to PS Anti-Corruption. Later he was produced before the Hon’ble Court on 18/07/2014 from where he has remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.

 

        The general public is requested to give information about corrupt activities of any public servant to the Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption Unit on his mobile No.9531856175 or the Dy.Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption Unit on his mobile 9531856151.