Port Blair, May 3: The Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands to install a massive desalination plant in the South Andaman region to alleviate water crisis.

In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, the Member of Parliament said that a severe water crisis is currently affecting many parts of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and he has been receiving numerous complaints from the citizens of South Andaman, Middle Andaman, North Andaman, Nicobar District, and Port Blair city regarding the acute shortage of water.

Appreciating the fact that the Andaman & Nicobar Administration is taking various steps to address the water crisis, including plans to bring 6.0 MLD of water from five more sources of Rutland to South Andaman, he said that this is an opportune time to consider a more permanent solution like installation of a massive desalination plant in the South Andaman region.

Desalination plants have been successfully implemented in many countries around the world to combat water shortages. The installation of a desalination plant would not only provide fresh water to the people but would also be the ideal solution for these Islands surrounded by sea.

The MP pointed that a desalination plant can convert seawater into potable water, providing a long-term solution to the chronic water crisis in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. “Furthermore, the technology used in desalination plants has improved significantly, making them cost-effective and energy-efficient,” he said.

He also said that the increase in the number of tourists due to the operation of international flights once the new air terminal of VSI airport of Port Blair is ready is likely to create more shortages of water in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. “The influx of tourists is likely to put additional strain on the already limited water resources of the Islands, especially in the municipal areas. With the tourism industry being a significant contributor to the local economy, the demand for water is likely to increase further. Moreover, the water supply infrastructure of the Islands is limited, and the existing sources of freshwater are not sufficient to meet the increasing demand”.

He pointed out that a desalination plant is an essential solution for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands because it is a man-made technology that can provide freshwater to the islands even if the monsoons fail or there is a natural disaster. “With desalination plants ready we will no longer be dependent on nature for fresh water,” the MP suggested.