Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 18: Sri Vijaya Puram capital city of A&N Islands witnessed water shortage despite completion of many major projects like raising of Dhanikhari dam and Rutland water supply project due to rapidly changing climatic condition as well as fast pace of development in the Municipal as well as surrounding area.
To ensure water security essential for development of A&N Islands Administration has adopted multipronged strategy of decentralized development of water sources. Revival and integration of old sources as well as development of new large size water bodies. UT has already completed many projects like development of small pond check weirs and bore well as well as their integration which has improved water supply availability in small pockets and villages substantially.
Similarly, to augment water supply availability in future for Sri Vijaya Puram, Administration has planned to develop two major water reservoir Guptapara Dam (4000ML) and Maccapahad Dam(9000ML) at Burmanallah, based on Desktop studies by CWC. As per suggestion from Local representative of the area, a team of Engineers from Central Water Commission Yamuna Basin Organization, Faridabad inspected the site during 2025 and submitted a project proposal for preparation of DPR for these two dams. Proposal after due scrutiny has been approved by Administration.
Accordingly, in a solemn function the MoU was signed by the SE (Plg) of APWD and SE (Plg) of CWC in the presence of Er. T K Prijith Rekh, Chief Engineer, APWD and other officials of APWD and CWC to take up DPR preparation for these two dams. DPR preparation is likely to be completed in next 18 months. Thereafter, work can be started after obtaining necessary administrative approval and expenditure sanction.
On completion of these two projects, there will be an additional reserve of approximately 13000 ML which will be more than 1.5 times of the net reservoir capacity of existing Dhanikhari Dam.