Campbell Bay, 09 Dec 2020
The Govt. of India has plans for rapid development of Campbell Bay. Several projects are being proposed, teams from various Ministries and Organisations of Govt. of India are deputed to Great Nicobar from time to time for various surveys and studies.
The Prime Minister of India on 10th of August 2020 while inaugurating the Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Project had also announced plans of the Govt. of India to construct and operate a Transshipment Port at Great Nicobar under PPP mode. The development is agenda is pushed by the Govt. of India on one side whereas Campbell Bay Gram Panchayat has failed to tackle even the most basic issues of the residents.
Take a walk on the road stretch between Jetty Bazaar and Zero Point after the sun sets and one will find hundreds of cattle on roads and roadsides. Every morning cattle dung is spread over the roads of Campbell Bay.
Very little efforts have been made to solve the issue of cattle menace from Campbell Bay. In 2019 news reports had appeared in a reputed newspaper about the Pradhan of Campbell Bay Gram Panchayat initiating tagging of cattle for identification. The move was aimed at identifying the cattle roaming as stray and penalising their owners. The imposition of fines on cattle owners was not done seriously by Campbell Bay Gram Panchayat and hence hundreds of cattle can still be seen on roads.
Campbell Bay Gram Panchayat is the smallest Panchayat in terms of area out of the three panchayats of Great Nicobar. Campbell Bay Gram Panchayat also has the highest revenue among all the three panchayats of Great Nicobar Island. The main areas of Great Nicobar where all the important offices are located also falls under the jurisdiction of Campbell Bay Gram Panchayat.
Campbell Bay Gram Panchayat is also responsible for the first impression of Great Nicobar Island since it acts as a gateway to Great Nicobar Island.
These cattle on roads of Campbell Bay also cause several problems for the motorists as well as for pedestrians. There have been minor accidents in Campbell Bay because of cattle on roads. Cattle dung on roads also makes it slippery causing accidents.
The problem could have been solved easily by imposing fines on the owners of the cattle who let them roam freely on roads, but the political functionaries of the Campbell Bay Gram Panchayat have not bothered to impose the same.
The filthy roads of Campbell Bay are also a shame for every resident of Great Nicobar. Cattle Dung accumulates on the roads and towards the side of the roads giving it a filthy appearance. There have been several pieces of research which also prove that cattle dung on roads also causes serious damages.
During the visit of important officials, Campbell Bay Gram Panchayat has always ensured that the cattle stay away from the roads but on any normal day these cattle are allowed to rest and cause annoyance to the general public.
Construction of infrastructure is not the only function of a Panchayat. The welfare of the residents should be the topmost priority of the political functionaries of a Gram Panchayat. Merely conducting cleanliness drives on special occasions and clicking of photographs should not be the priority.
Panchayati Raj Elections are due and in the meanwhile, Special Officers have been appointed to discharge the functions of the Pradhan of a Panchayat. The Special Officer of Campbell Bay Gram Panchayat now has the responsibility to free Campbell Bay from cattle menace. It should be ensured that no cattle are allowed to roam, sit on-road and roadsides. The Special Officer should set an example for the next elected representatives of the Panchayat by eliminating Cattle Menace from Campbell Bay.
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