Let’s
Un-complicate
Baratang is emerging as one of the most popular tourist spot in A&N islands. The journey through thick rainforest and thereafter to limestone caves in speed boats amid mangroves is indeed a mesmerizing trip, but not an easy one since the intervening Middle strait creek is connected (or disconnected!) by ferry boats. Daily to and fro traffic across the creek include approx 2500+ commuters, 22+ bus, 100+ four wheelers and 50+ goods vehicles on board vehicle ferry boats. A major chunk of this traffic (1200 tourists and 60-70 four wheelers) crossing the creek altogether is un-necessary and rather risky since boats plying in the route is not certified to carry such huge number of commuters. I wonder, is it really necessary to ferry tourists to Nilambur jetty or they could be taken to limestone caves directly from Middle strait jetty?
F
or a Baratang bound tourist, the ordeal starts slightly after midnight, because they need to board the vehicle scheduled to start at 0330 am in the morning from Port Blair. Tourist vehicles could be seen arriving as early as 5 am onwards at Jirkatang forming a beeline called convoy. At this leg of the journey, tourists are often puzzled at their early arrival and police bandobast at the outpost. Guests attend natures call, have idli, poori, tea and their quota of snacks and get ready for a life time experience – journey through the reserve forests of South Andaman. At Middle strait tourists are herded to vehicle ferry boat like cattles packed one besides the other. The first ferry from middle strait carries around 600 passengers whereas none of the vessel operating in the route is certified to carry more than 99 seated passengers. Commuters huddle in the space left between bus and cars. Ticket collectors face uphill task collecting fares, yelling at tourists who would argue they paid for the trip in advance. Unpleasant exchange of words would follow until their tour operator steps in to clarify ferry charge is not included in the package since vehicle ferry is operated by Administration and it is a matter of `4/- that too going into Govt fund. There is utmost chaos, none of them knowing what is happening, until they land at Nilambur jetty for another round of journey, this time on speed boats. Movement of large number of tourists with vehicles across the creek could be avoided if tourists are allowed to board their respective boats to limestone caves directly from Middle strait itself. All tourist vehicles should be parked at Middle strait jetty. Small change but big on saving of time, money besides load on vehicle ferry in the route could be reduced. Islanders, public transport buses (for Port Blair, Kadamtala, Rangat, Mayabunder, Diglipur etc) will be able to cross the creek without a risk on their lives. Goods vehicles too would be able
to cross the creek easily. Such an arrangement in turn will uncomplicate the journey for a tourist. They need not start so early, mad rush to make it to the convoy could be avoided. Both the islanders and tourists would be saved from the pains of paid harassment. Revenue lost due to reduced traffic on vehicle ferry could be earned back by deploying STS bus to Mudvolcano. Unemployed local youths could be motivated to operate point-to-point taxi service to cater to the transportation needs of tourist population. It would be beneficial to everyone. The urgent need for reducing the load on vehicle ferry need to be seen in the backdrop of March 2005 tragic incident wherein a Port Blair bound STS bus slipped from a vehicle ferry, plunged into the sea claiming lives of atleast 10 passengers including a woman and a child. In a bizarre incident this January, while boarding, the vehicle ferry slipped from beneath a bus! Luckily the bus did not plunge into sea this time. Recurrence of such incident time and again speaks volumes about the insensitiveness of those managing the affairs of tourism. Safety of tourists as well as general commuter is being compromised in broad day light. Easiest way out of this mess would be diverting tourist to limestone caves directly from Middle strait jetty itself. Directorate of Tourism need to play proactive role, pooling resources, taking necessary clearances and seeking specific cooperation from A&N Police, STS, Directorate of Shipping Services, Department of Environment and Forests, APWD etc. Another important aspect is involvement of the civil society. Once tourism is linked to livelihood of local population, they would protect it for their sustenance. This in turn will help in minimizing damage to fragile island environment. I believe coordinated efforts and a little change in the way tourism is being conducted in these Islands would certainly justify our place in the favored list of Incredible !ndia experience. Acknowledgements : Mr G Kurma Rao, Baratang and Mr Deepankar Mandal, Bambooflat
Photo courtesy : www.andamansheekha.com
Debkumar Bhadra, Shore Point, Bambooflat, S Andaman-744107, email : debkumar bhadra@yahoo.com