Islanders demand Berthing of mainland bound ships at Mayabunder Jetty

Source: http://www.andamansheekha.com/

Port Blair, June 09: It is apparent that development and progress of North and Middle Andaman, in comparison to South Andaman, is unsatisfactory and the reason is nothing but lack of Administrative attention and utilization of the resources and infrastructures of the area.
In spite of having larger territory and more population, North and Middle Andaman is struggling to come up but the underprivileged area is failing. The area is more prosperous in agriculture, dairy, fishery, poultry and other sectors due to its fertile soil and hardworking people.
It is very unfortunate for the people of the area that they do not get satisfactory value of their products and labor and on the contrary they have to pay more for the products imported from mainland and outside off the area.
They have to pay extra amount for any articles than the people of South Andaman, especially Port Blair as they have to pay the extra transportation charge from Port Blair. Neither they can get the imported products easily and reasonably nor can they get suitable value to their own products only because of the poor transportation facility.
There is a wharf at Mayabunder in which mainland bound ship used to embark but the system has changed, at present hardly any ship touches Mayabunder and the wharf is laying almost unused. Instead of having a good wharf, mainland bound ships do not embark there hampering the total economy of the region.
The commerce and trade of the area is in extinction edge affecting the standard of living and economy of common people of the area. The businesspersons have to import or export produces and goods to and from mainland via Port Blair paying extra amount for both transportation and port tax which is the normal reason for the increase of rate of the products adding extra local taxes.
It is not only a matter of price hike but it is very disheartening and discouraging for the traders and businesspersons as trading became tiresome and hectic in the region due to complicated transportation of the goods and articles from mainland via Port Blair.
The businesspersons need to take pain to store their goods and articles at Port Blair which is both expensive and troublesome; they need to hire or purchase vehicles to transport the goods from Port Blair to their place; and they have to face so many other extra and unwanted problems which are discouraging for them.
It is a well known fact that transport and communication system is compulsory for the progress and development of any area and at the same time it is not digestible and comprehensible why the Administration is so indifferent to the prosperity of North and Middle Andaman region.
The administration must think of berthing of Mainland Bound ship at Mayabunder harbour atleast twice in a month for the sake of economic development of North and Middle Andaman and convenience of people living in that region.