Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 23 Nov 2021
Sources have informed Nicobar Times that the Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works sought for permission from the Local Administration at Campbell Bay for landing & staying in tribal areas of Pilopanja, Makachua, Indira Point, Thilangchang & Pillolo for conducting Bathymetry Survey & Feasibility study for proposed floating jetty.
The Local Administration did not issue any permits to the staff of ALHW to land and stay in tribal areas and even after not getting the required permission from the Local Administration, the team left for visiting the tribal areas this morning from Campbell Bay defying the provisions of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands(Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956.
According to sources the team which left for visiting the tribal areas comprised of a Marine Surveyor of ALHW; a Project Officer from IITM, Chennai and some support staff.
It is interesting that the general public visiting Great Nicobar has to get tested for COVID-19 at Port Blair before they can board a ship, but these officials with blatant disregard for the health of the tribal people left Campbell Bay for visiting the tribal areas even without a Rapid Antigen Test.
Nicobar Times confirmed with the Assistant Commissioner’s Office, Campbell Bay and we were informed that no tribal pass or landing permit was issued to anyone from the office. When we asked about the ALHW Officials, we were informed that a communication was received from them to issue permission to visit tribal areas, but no such permission was granted.
Several supporting staff are accompanying the officials of the ALHW who are not even public employees.
This act by the officials of the ALHW is a blatant disregard of the law of the land and serious action should be taken against them for violating the provisions of the ANPAT Regulation, 1956 and under the Disaster Management Act for endangering the lives of the tribal population.
Cases have been registered in the past against locals for violation of the ANPAT Regulation, 1956 and no excuses were heard and nothing was considered before the filing of cases against the residents of these Islands, who have lived in harmony with the tribal people all along for decades.
It would be interesting to see whether any action is taken against these officials of the Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works for violating the ANPAT Regulation, 1956.
There is a notification dated 21st April 1957 which has modified the ANPAT Regulation, 1956 to exempt the Govt. Servants and their family members from taking a pass before entering a reserved area, while proceeding on duty. Nicobar Times is unsure whether the exemption will extend to the staff of ALHW.
Even if the exemption applies to them, these staff of ALHW have taken other people with them as support staff who are not Govt. Servants and in doing so they have helped in commissioning of a crime and this should attract relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
FIR should be registered immediately and the culprits should be booked for refusing to obey the law.