Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 17 May 2023
Due to delay in the onset of monsoon, the water level at Dhanikari Dam and other water sources situated at the South Andaman District has gone down considerably and is severely affecting the water supply in the area. Many complaints are being received from general public and public representatives regarding irregular and non-supply of water in residential areas leading to a threatening disaster situation. It is perceived that an emerging distressful situation will arise, if immediate response and action is not taken in view of the prevailing emergent water crisis.
After assessing the situation, for the purpose of assisting, protecting or providing relief to the community & general public in response to any threatening disaster situation and for effective control and management of water crisis in the entire South Andaman District, necessary measures are required to be taken on emergent basis to mitigate the crisis and to control the worsening situation.
In order to augment the crisis and to avoid any disturbance to law and order in the South Andaman District, the District Magistrate, South Andaman, Ms Veditha Reddy, IAS, in exercise of the powers vested u/s 34 of Disaster Management Act, 2005, has directed the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) and Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC) to assess all water sources in the District including bore-wells, ponds, ring wells and other sources; assess the requirement of water for the use of public in limits of South Andaman District and to utilize all water sources including bore-wells, ring wells, ponds and others available in the District and provide supply of clean and safe water to all residents of the District in an equitable manner.
In view of the emergent circumstances, the order has been issued ex-parte and is addressed to the public in general. Further, the Superintendent of Police, Sub-Divisional Magistrate/Executive Magistrates and all authorities concerned have been asked to ensure strict compliance of the Order and adequately sensitize the field functionaries to note that these directions are issued fundamentally to mitigate the crisis situation and shall be withdrawn once normalcy prevails in the entire District.
It has been informed that any disobedience of the above orders shall invite penal action u/s 188 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the relevant provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 against the violator(s).