Residents of Sippighat Panchayat Protests Against Bad Road

Rohit Kumar

Port Blair, 24 September 2021

Residents of Sippighat Panchayat today gathered in large numbers and protested against the bad road connecting Garacharma to Teylorabad and Bimblitan. The residents alleged that they had to resort to protest because of the careless attitude of the authorities towards the said road.

The residents informed Nicobar Times that they have been complaining about the deteriorating condition of the road for years but no effort was made to repair the road.

They further informed Nicobar Times that every day they have to suffer because of the bad condition of the road and there have been several accidents on the said road. Some residents informed us that during emergencies ambulances face problems in reaching patients on the said stretch of road and auto-rickshaw charges a hefty amount for dropping passengers there because of the pathetic condition of the road.

Raj Govind, Ex-Zilla Parishad Member, Sippighat while speaking to Nicobar Times commented that the region beyond Bhatu Basthi is still Kala Pani for the authorities as they fail to acknowledge that human beings live there.

The residents reportedly were very angry at the careless attitude of the authorities during the protest and when the Chief Engineer of Andaman Public Works Department reached the protest site with the Executive Engineer, CD-II, Prothrapur, APWD, the protestors got agitated and demanded to know why the road was not maintained for years. 

It is reported that the Chief Engineer left the protest site to attend some urgent meeting and later the Executive Engineer gave an assurance in writing to the protestors that APWD will repair the said road with a fresh estimate. The Executive Engineer wrote in his written assurance that approximately one month is required for sanction of the fresh estimate subject to funds made available. He added with estimate sanction the work shall be taken up within one month. He also wrote in his written assurance that the road will be maintained properly.

The protestors also complained of bad electricity in the area and while speaking to Nicobar Times explained that their public leaders and the members of the general public have time and again raised the issue with the authorities of the Electricity Department but their problem of electricity has still not been solved.

Youths, women and men together participated in large numbers in the protest and highlighted their problems before the authorities.