Andaman group of Islands get second Zilla Parishad

Port Blair, Mar 20: People living in North and Middle Andaman region get one more Zilla Parishad with the issuance of a notification to this effect by Andaman and Nicobar Administration, officials sources said today.

Andaman and Nicobar islands already have one Zilla Parishad and this second Zilla Parishad will be for North and Middle Andaman District, with its headquarters in Mayabunder, a island situated at the northern tip of Andaman chain.

"As per the notification South Andaman Zilla Parishad will have its jurisdiction over the Panchayat Samities of Protherapur, Ferrargunj, Little Andaman and Campbell Bay while North and Middle Andaman will cover Panchayat Samities of Diglipur, Mayabunder and Rangat," informed Mr V K Mishra the Officer Incharge of islands' Information and Publicity Department.

The North and Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad shall continue for the remainder of the duration of the South Andaman Zilla Parishad. The Notification shall come into force from April 1,2007.

Mishra told that both the Zilla Parshads will have 15 seats each.

As per the breakup of Andaman Zilla Parishad, the Panchayat Samities of Prothrapur will have 5 seats, Ferrargunj 5 seats, Little Andaman 2 and Campbell Bay 2 seats.

Similarly, under North and Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samities of Diglipur will have 5 seats, Mayabunder 3 and Rangat seven seats.

No seats shall be reserved for Scheduled Tribes and women belonging to Schedule Tribes as their population is less than half the proportionate population required to fill one seat.

"However, five out of 15 seats of each Zilla Parishad shall be reserved for women, a separate notification has also been issued in this regard," Mishra added.

UNI