Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 15 June 2022
Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands had released an Election Manifesto before the Panchayat and Municipal Elections, 2022. A slew of promises were made by the BJP like providing free Wi-Fi across the PBMC area; Rational Amnesty Scheme for One Time relaxation of all building violations in PBMC area; Review and amendment of provisions pertaining to property tax in PBMC area etc.
Mr. N K Udhaya Kumar, State President, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Andaman and Nicobar Islands while speaking to Nicobar Times informed that the BJP-led PBMC is making all efforts to fulfil all the poll promises made before the Municipal and Panchayat Elections, 2022. Mr. Kumar also informed that the council has passed the resolutions for implementing almost all the poll promises within a very short period of time.
The following points were mentioned in the BJP’s Manifesto for the 2022 Andaman and Nicobar Islands Local Body Elections:
World-Class Infrastructure For Port Blair:
• BJP is committed to develop Port Blair into a world-class smart city.
• All the roads and footpaths coming within the ambit of PBMC will get constructed within a specific period of time and all necessary repair and maintenance work will be done.
• Construction of 1000 meters of new drains in each ward every year will be done.
• Free Wi-Fi will be given within the limits of Port Blair Municipal Council.
• Construction of new shops will be done for leasing it out to local residents of every PBMC ward and panchayat for setting up of business units. The existing single-stories shops would be replaced by double or triple-storied buildings to provide more opportunities, without disturbing the tenancy of the existing tenants.
• Gandhi Park will be developed as a grand tourist destination and a laser show will be introduced.
• The present Ratnam Market would be developed as a Shopping Mall/Super Market.
Making Port Blair a Water Excess City:
• Adequate measures will be taken to provide clean and safe drinking water to every household in Port Blair and to ensure water security 24 X 7 across the city.
• We will launch a comprehensive water pipeline up-gradation program with the objectives of Water supply for all wards.
Education and Employment For Youth:
• Port Blair Municipal Council under the BJP will be committed to increasing the participation of Islanders in the civil service of the country, a government UPSC coaching centre will be started.
• New Training Centres will be established for conducting specialised training on repairing and maintenance of Tourist and Fishing boats and for solar panels and LED bulbs for young people of the Island.
• All the vacancies of PBMC and Panchayats will be filled up by recruiting local youth of the Islands.
Promotion of Sports and Its Infrastructure in the Island:
• As a sign of our commitment to take comprehensive steps to develop the culture of sports in the city and as a measure to provide resources. Netaji Stadium will be converted into a world-class stadium and in every ward sports-related primary facilities and playgrounds will be provided.
• Inter ward/Panchayat sports will be organised and sports persons will be facilitated.
• Yuva Kendras for children and youth in every ward will be constructed to provide state-of-the-art sports facilities.
Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas:
• Financial assistance to build new pucca houses will be provided through Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna for the homeless and urban poor. The budget of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna will be utilised totally to ensure ‘Housing For All’ in the city.
• A ‘Corpus Fund’ will be created for the welfare of local people involved in the tourism industry by invoking a reasonable cess on all the inbound tourists.
• BJP is committed to making daughters of the city ‘Atma Nirbhar’ and will provide financial aid of Rs. 30,000 to daughters of widows and free usage of community centres for weddings.
• Rs. 1000/Month will be given to Sanitation Workers of the Council as nutritious food allowance.
• All Daily Wager Sanitary Mazdoors, Work Charge Mazdoors who are working continuously for more than 10 years or more in PBMC will be regularised by framing a ‘one-time regularisation scheme’, following the judgements pronounced by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in this regard.
• Around 249 posts of various categories such as 189 Work Charge Mazdoors and 60 posts of Sanitary Mazdoors are vacant and therefore all steps would be taken to make sure that at least these Mazdoors are regularised as per seniority.
• An adequate number of oncologists will be appointed and a dedicated department for the treatment of cancer will be established by the PBMC.
• Free cremation services for the destitute and the poor in the city and panchayats will also be ensured.
Reviewing of Property Tax:
• All the provisions of pertaining to property tax provisions will be reviewed and amended and will make all endeavours to remove property tax pertaining to residential buildings within the PBMC.
Clean Port Blair, Green Port Blair
• As a sign of our commitment towards Swachh Port Blair and to ensure a clean city, new dustbins will be installed in every ward. Also, old dustbins will be reconstructed in public places.
Easing Norms for Construction of Building:
• The process of approval of all building plans will be streamlined and ‘One Month Time Limit’ will be fixed for the approval of the plan if the process does not get complete within a month then it will be deemed that permission has been granted.
• The provisions related to Building Bye-Laws for increasing the vertical maximum height of buildings by laying the adequate foundation will be amended as per opined by the team of experts.
• The “Rational Amnesty Scheme” will be introduced for giving one-time relaxation to all the building violations, constructed within PBMC.