Port Blair, Sept 29: On going through the difficulties being faced by the Islanders for getting Smart Islander Card, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament, A&N Islands taken up the matter with the District Administration for arranging issuance of Smart Islander Card at the respective wards in Municipal area and also in Panchayat wise in Rural area for convenient to the islanders since the present system being arranged at ITF Ground, Port Blair is not convenient to the islanders.
The MP informed the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman that the Smart Islander Cards in place of Paper based Islander Cards are being issued from ITF Ground, Port Blair for ward wise of Municipal Area as per scheduled dates fixed by the District Administration on payment of Rs.100/- per card. For obtaining Smart Islander Card from the lone designated place of ITF Ground, the islanders are facing various difficulties since the present system arranged there is affecting their routine works due to over crowd and time consuming.
He further said that in the past occasions, Islander Cards, Aadhar Cards, Photo Electoral Cards, Ration Cards etc. were issued on free of cost after making necessary arrangements at ward wise in Municipal Area and Panchayat wise in rural area without creating any difficulties for the islanders. However, the present system being arranged is against the public friendly system due to the fact that despite charging Rs.100/- from individual for Smart Islander Card, islanders are have been compelled to spend more time due to over crowd.
Hence Member of Parliament has requested the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman who has been authorised for issuance of Smart Islander Card, to make necessary arrangements at ward wise in Municipal area and Panchayat wise in rural area to avoid inconvenient to the Islanders.
4.8 magnitude quake strikes Andaman Islands
Port Blair, Sept 29: An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale struck the Andaman Islands on Sunday, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The quake occurred at 2:32 pm and was registered at a depth of 10 kilometres. There were no reports of any casualties, injuries or damage to property.