Central Team comprising of Central Nodal Officer & Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, GoI on visit to A&N Islands

Port Blair, Nov 29: A Central Team comprising of Central Nodal Officer, Shri Vikas Anand, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, GoI and Technical Officer, Smt. Rachna Bhatti, Scientist- 'D', Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI are on a three-day tour to Andaman & Nicobar Islands to review the progress of Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) - Catch the Rain - 2023 Campaign under National Water Mission. Team has earlier inspected progress of various work under JSA during May, 2023 as part of pre monsoon inspection and reviewed the progress of Amrit Sarovar work in North and Middle Andaman. The current visit is part of 2nd stage post monsoon inspection of progress of various work in North & Middle Andaman District to ensure sustainable water supply in the district.

JSA-CTR 2023 with the theme 'Source Sustainability for Drinking Water' has been launched to promote water conservation and preservation of water sources through Rainwater Harvesting. A&N Islands has participated in the Campaign since 2019 and successfully took up many activities, promoting rainwater harvesting in the Island under 'Catch the Rain' Campaign. National Water Mission after evaluating various criteria has identified North and Middle Andaman as water stressed District and issued direction to take up various work under convergence with different Departments to make it a water surplus district. Shri Vikas Anand, IAS, Joint Secretary, MoPR, GoI has been appointed as Central Nodal Officer to monitor and review progress of implementation under JSA CTR-2023.

The Central Team visited North & Middle Andaman from Nov 28 to 29, 2023 and inspected various sites of completed Amrit Sarovars, major water supply infrastructure at Diglipur, Mayabunder and Rangat accompanied by Shri Ankit Yadav, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, North and Middle Andaman and other District Officials.

He also held intensive interaction with public, Gram Panchayat Officials during inspection and listened to their grievances. He advised public to make their villages self-dependent in water supply by developing more Amrit Sarovars in vacant and unutilised land near their villages. It shall ensure availability of adequate water during summer for various purpose including irrigation and ultimately make the villages prosperous.

He also requested the Panchayat to take up Grey Water Management along with Rainwater Harvesting as community activity and develop self-sustainable cycle in Water Management in their villages. The District Administration was advised to use GIS and Remote Based Technology and plan water conservation structure at potential sites to ensure maximum retention of surface runoff and maximum ground water recharge. They were also advised to arrange more training for PRI members and public in water management under convergence for more awareness and higher degree of involvement in such initiatives.

He discussed progress of long-term project like Khudirampur Dam, Korang Nallah and directed concerned Officials to expedite the process of various type of clearance and DPR preparation to ensure early start of these project, so that, future sustainable water supply in the District can be ensured.

They expressed happiness over completion of more than targeted 225 Amrit Sarovars in the A&N Island well before target date on 15th August, 2023 which is a great achievement in this direction. The Team appreciated   efforts of UT in developing new water sources like ponds, bore wells, check weir over unutilised land, submerged and abandoned quarry in South Andaman to prevent future water crisis. He advised other District to replicate the model in their District as well, so that in addition to long term project, additional reserve of water can be maintained in the District. 

The Team advised to ensure proper maintenance of old and damaged pipelines in routine manner to reduce loss of precious water during transportation and as well as other infrastructure, so that a more efficient distribution network can be developed. If necessary, new technology and material can be considered for use in work.

Tomorrow, the Central Team will review implementation of JSA CTR -2023 in other districts in a meeting with Officials of APWD and Department of RD in the Conference Hall of Secretariat. Shri Arjun Sharma, IAS, Secretary (PWD) and Ms. Vedhita Reddy, IAS, Secretary (RD) are likely to be present during review meeting.

In a separate meeting with Secretary RD, functioning of Panchayati Raj Institution will also be reviewed to assess the need for assistance in strengthening Panchayati Raj Institution in A&N Islands, a press release from APWD said.