Port Blair, Aug 31: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Chief Secretary to withdraw the mandatory RAT test for people and visitors from Diglipur region for travelling to Port Blair.
In his letter addressed to the Chief Secretary the Member of Parliament today mentioned that even after a considerable reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases, it has been made mandatory for people and visitors from the Diglipur region to undergo Rapid Antigen Test at Diglipur before commencing their journey for Port Blair.
Raising concern over the issue that why such test has been made mandatory for only Diglipur region of North and Middle Andaman, the Member of Parliament pointed out that from other parts of North and Middle Andaman one can visit Port Blair only after thermal screening.
He also pointed out that the Rapid Antigen Tests are being conducted at Diglipur one day before the journey for Port Blair, in the evening hours and often by the time the Rapid Antigen Test ends it becomes 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
In absence of proper transport facilities, for people living in remote pockets of Diglipur Island, it becomes too difficult to reach their respective villages after such delay in RAT test, the MP added.
Considering this, the Member of Parliament has requested the Chief Secretary to withdraw the mandatory RAT test for people and visitors from the Diglipur region for travelling to Port Blair.
In case RAT is continued, the Member of Parliament requested the Chief Secretary to conduct the RAT test in late afternoon hours so that all tests are completed by 4.30 p.m. so that people from remote areas of North Andaman can return to their respective villages safely.