Port Blair, Mar 22 : The lone Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to order resumption of four Convoys of Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) through Jarawa Reserve Forest between Jirkatang and Middle Strait (both sides), as it was there before pandemic. Convoys under police guards are operated by Andaman and Nicobar Administration from the Jirkatang area of South Andaman to Middle Strait to ensure no contact between the commuters and Jarawa Tribes, living in Jawara Reserve Forest of South Andaman. In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, the Member of Parliament mentioned that because of Covid19 pandemic, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration had reduced the number of convoys from Jirkatang to the Middle Strait nearly two years back to contain the spread of Covid19 virus and control movement of people from one District to another. He added that presently due to tremendous efforts made by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration the Covid19 cases are under total control and as on date there are only 02 active Covid19 cases in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Member of Parliament remarked that due to changes in convoy timing between Jirkatang and Middle Strait, tour operators of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and tourists visiting these Islands are having difficulty planning tours to Baratang and other Islands in North and Middle Andaman. As per details, presently there are only three convoys from Jirkatang to Middle Strait at 7.30 AM, 9.00 AM and 2.00 PM and there were three convoys from Middle Strait to Jirkatang at 6.30 AM, 11.30 AM and 2.30 PM, which reduces visiting hours for tourists at Baratang to a great extend. Earlier, there were four convoys from Jirkatang to Middle Strait at 6.00 AM, 9.00 AM, 12.00 noon and 2.30 PM and similarly, there were four convoys from Middle Strait to Jirkatang at 6.30 AM, 9.30 AM, 12.30 noon and 3.00 PM, which used to give ample time for tourists visiting Baratang Island. Due to the problems being faced by travelers and tour operators, as well as the minimum number of Covid19 cases in Andaman, the Member of Parliament requested the Lt. Governor to order the resumption of four Convoys between Jirkatang and Middle Strait, as was the case before pandemic. He added that the Tourism Industry of Andaman and Nicobar islands has suffered the maximum brunt of the lockdowns and movement restriction and now when the situation has improved this is the right time to resume four convoys between Jirkatang to Middle Strait. The Member of Parliament pointed out that the resumption of four Convoys between Jirkatang and Middle Strait will benefit Islanders and tourists in three major ways. According to the Andaman MP, firstly, tourists will be able to comfortably return back to Port Blair from Baratang on the same day; secondly, Islanders living in the Middle Andaman region can come to Port Blair for various works and return back comfortably on the same day and save money for lodging at Port Blair and lastly public visiting Diglipur (North Andaman from Port Blair, South Andaman) can reach Diglipur safely before evening and the threat of accidents will be reduced. SKR RN
