Port Blair, June 15: The Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma today met the Secretary, APWD at his office and discussed major water projects proposed in the islands. He informed the Secretary about the difficulties faced by the residents due to the water crisis particularly during the dry season. The MP requested the Secretary, APWD for completing the repair works of pipelines damaged due to the Dairy Farm Culvert Project.

The Secretary, APWD informed the MP that out of the two pipelines damaged at the culvert project site, repair work of one pipeline is already completed and repair work of another pipeline is under progress, which will also be completed shortly. Once the work is completed residents will face no water problems.

On the culvert project, she informed that work is progressing at a fast pace and is likely to be completed soon. On the proposed major water projects, she informed that the submarine pipeline laying work in the Rutland water supply project between Phongi Ballu at Chidiya Tapu and Rut Land will start shortly as experts from mainland will arrive in the islands shortly. In the same manner, works for the Flat Bay water project will also commence soon as experts team have already submitted their final reports and sanctioned obtained.

She also informed that directions have been issued to various Panchayats in the islands to undertake de-silting works of various water sources in the islands, including ring wells.

Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma requested the Secretary to expedite all the water projects so that the residents of the islands do not face a crisis in the summer when the demand of the water is more.