Diglipur, Aug 25: The Ministry of ‘Jal Shakti’ has expressed immense satisfaction over the performance and functioning of the Kalpong Hydroelectric Project. In an awareness Programme under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, held at Nabagram Community Hall today, to sensitize the stakeholders on ‘Promotion on improved Resources Management’, the Under Secretary of the Ministry, Shri Anil Kumar Sharma said that it's been 22 long years since its inception in the year 2001 and still it has been catering to the need of the power generation in this vast North Andaman region.
Congratulating the civil construction agency, ‘Andaman Public Works Department’ he said, the un-interrupted performance of the Dam itself speaks volume of the quality of construction work, which had been undertaken long back, with a dream to harness energy requirement through renewable sources.
Expressing his happiness, the Chief Guest, the Administrative Head of the region, the Assistant Commissioner, Shri Anuj Kumar Bharti said, that it’s commendable that 97 percent of the Electricity requirement in Diglipur area is met with this Kalpong Hydel Project. Calling upon the villagers to develop the habit of saving water, he said the water crisis is a major challenge before us. Another Under Secretary in the Ministry, Shri Anil Kumar Wahi from Delhi said, the North Andaman region is blessed with good forest cover and possibility of tapping the fresh water bodies should be explored. Citing the examples from mainland, he said the Dam area should also be developed as a tourism spot as he sees good potential of Dam Tourism here.
The special guest, the Director of the National Dam Safety Authority - Southern Region, Shri R. Thangamani said that the status of the dam in terms of safety norms is quite satisfactory. He appreciated the efforts of the APWD Division of North Andaman, for striving relentlessly to create awareness among the rural populace for water conservation by conducting different types of activities.
The Panchayat Samiti Pramukh of Diglipur, Shri Deepankar Mistry also asked villagers to adopt water conservation measures in their daily lives. The Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department, Shri A.K. Saha also shared his experience.
The winners of the Painting Competitions on the theme ‘Water Conservation’ conducted for the school students were felicitated on this occasion.
Earlier, while welcoming the guests, the Executive Engineer of the CD Diglipur, Shri D.R.R. Sidappa informed that the construction work of the dam was completed 44 months before the set target and was commissioned on 1st September 2001. The Assistant Director of the NDSA, Shri Prabhu proposed the vote of thanks. The Junior Engineer Ms Shakila Jalal compered the entire proceedings.
Apart from the Heads of the offices of the different departments, a large number of public representatives and villagers attended the awareness programme cum meeting today.