Lakhadweep demands ship, copter to face monsoon

Kochi, June 29 (UNI) The Lakhadweep Administration today said it is trying to get a medium size passenger ship from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and a 26-seater helicopter through the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to tide over the problem of passenger and cargo transportation to the islands during the monsoon season.

Reacting to the reports about a large number of islanders being stranded here due to lack of transportation facilities, the Union Territory Administration's Director, Port, Shipping and Aviation A Hamza said here problems were caused as only one passenger ship M V Bharat Seema was available to maintain island/mainland connectivity.

While three fair weather passenger ships could not be deployed during the monsoon, M V Tipu Sultan had to be withdrawn for mandatory repair and maintenance for revalidation of the voyage certificate. This ship was epxected to be back in service by July ten.

Meanwhile, Lakshadweep Administrator B V Selvaraj had taken up with the Union Home Ministry the deployment of a medium size passenger ship from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Union Government had agreed to the proposal and efforts are on to get the ship soon.

The Centre had also agreed ''in-principle'', during the last Island Development Authority meeting, held on June 15 in New Delhi, to make available a 26-seater Mi-172 helicopter to maintain inter-island connectivity during the monsoons, he said.

Efforts were also on to ensure delivery of M V Kavaratti, which would have a passenger capacity of 700 persons, by the end of August. The ship, which would also have a capcity of 160 MT of cargo, was nearing completion at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatanam, he added.

UNI