Port Blair, May 11: CPI (M) has urged the Lt. Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands to take immediate effective steps to tide over the water crisis in the Port Blair town and rural South Andaman areas during the coming days as the steps taken by the Administration so far proved to be ineffective. In a letter sent to the Lt. Governor, D. Ayyappan, State Secretary of CPI (M) Andaman & Nicobar Islands further requested the Lt. Governor to hold an All Party meeting at his level to discuss this burning issue.

  Drawing the attention of the Lt. Governor to the acute water scarcity prevailing in the Port Blair town and rural South Andaman areas, Ayyappan said that water is being supplied to the residents once in a week and the people especially the women are facing untold difficulties. CPI (M) is deeply concerned over the present situation of thousands of people, facing acute water scarcity, undergoing mental tension and distress. He informed the Lt. Governor that as per the newspaper reports, the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration has told a delegation of PBMC councilors that only a small quantity of water is available in the Dhanikhari Dam, to be supplied to the residents of Port Blair town for two weeks.  

CPI (M) has observed that no contingency plan has been chalked out by the Administration so far in the event the monsoon is delayed. CPI (M) is of the opinion that the A & N Administration will not be able to face such a disastrous situation.  CPI (M) blamed the Administration for taking unilateral decisions on the drinking water situation without even consulting the civil society.   

CPI (M) State Secretary told the Lt. Governor that this situation arose only due to the utter failure of the A & N Administration and the Port Blair Municipal Council as the drinking water was not the priority of the Administration for the last several years. No new project for drinking water was evolved and implemented in the South Andaman area during the last ten years. CPI (M) observed that even the existing water sources have not been maintained properly by the PBMC and A & N Administration.

CPI (M) has observed that despite spending reportedly a whopping amount of one thousand crores of rupees for the Rutland Water Supply Project, the Administration and PBMC have failed to provide sufficient drinking water to a merely two lakh population of Port Blair town and rural South Andaman. CPI (M) stated in the letter that the present Port Blair Municipal Council has proved to be an utter failure and people have no faith on the Chairman and other Councillors.