Port Blair, Apr 26: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration to resume daily ships for Hut Bay and to schedule a connecting ship to Car Nicobar via Hut Bay once in every 10 days.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary the Member of Parliament mentioned that during COVID-19 pandemic the Andaman and Nicobar Administration had restricted the movement of ships to Little Andaman and other Islands to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus.
He added that before COVID-19 pandemic, everyday ships for Little Andaman Island were scheduled but later due to COVID-19 the frequency was reduced drastically.
Now when the COVID-19 cases are negligible in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and almost restrictions have been withdrawn, the Member of Parliament requested the Chief Secretary to resume daily connectivity of passenger ships/boats as it was scheduled before COVID-19 pandemic, so that people can easily travel between Port Blair and Little Andaman for treatment, education, business and needs.
He also requested to schedule one ship to Car Nicobar via Hut Bay atleast once in 10 days as due to the non-availability of ships for Car Nicobar via Hut Bay, a lot of people from Nicobari Community are unable to visit Car Nicobar to meet their family members and relatives during family functions/rituals as well as festivals.
He pointed out that ships to Car Nicobar via Hut Bay, once in 10 days, are required to supply fresh vegetables, fish and meat from Little Andaman to Car Nicobar Island, where a large number of tribal population and government servants and their families reside.
He added that such connecting ships will also open up business opportunities for poor farmers and other small business owners of Little Andaman, who have already suffered heavy financial loss during this pandemic time and also this will reduce prices of vegetables, fish and meat at Car Nicobar Island.