Rohit Kumar
Port Blair, 25 July 2022
Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands recently visited Rutland along with the Chief Engineer (APWD), technical team and other senior Officers of APWD to inspect the Rutland Water Supply Project.
During his visit to Rutland, the MP inspected Rutland Water Supply Project sites and other rich water sources present on the Island.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, especially the South Andaman region faces water crisis almost every year due to the fast pace of development and lack of a mechanism to catch the rain.
After he visited Rutland, the Member of Parliament wrote a letter to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and proposed extension of Stage -I of Rutland Water Supply Project and to begin Stage – II of Rutland Water Supply Project to obtain a total of 22.60 MLD of water.
In his letter addressed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Member of Parliament congratulated the Andaman & Nicobar Administration for completing Stage – I of the Rutland Water Supply Project in December 2021, which ensures availability of 6.60 ML (Million Litres) of water daily from Rutland to Pongi Balu – Dhanikhari Dam, catering to the daily growing demand of water from Port Blair City.
MP informed that the execution of Phase – I of the Rutland Water Supply Project helped in alleviating the daily water supply curtailment from January to April 2022 to some extent.
MP mentioned that due to the periodical increase in Population (both fixed and floating) of Port Blair Town and the increasing pace of development work being carried out in and around the city, there is a regular growing demand for water to be supplied in ample quantity to the population, thereby calling for new water supply projects to be taken up.
He pointed out that though some water supply projects (like Flat Bay Sweet Water Project & Sweet Water Lake Project at Sippighat) are in pipeline, these projects would require considerable time for completion.
MP added that some medium-term water supply projects are required to be taken up on a priority basis to meet the immediate demand of the population in the coming 15-20 years.
In his letter, the Member of Parliament proposed the extension of Stage – I of the Rutland Water Supply Project and also to start Stage – II of the Rutland Water Supply Project, which is not only feasible and viable but when executed will ameliorate the water demand for the coming 15-20 years.
MP also mentioned that during his recent visit to Rutland along with the Chief Engineer (APWD) and other senior Officers of APWD, he observed the Stage-I of the Rutland Water Supply Project very closely.
MP also gave out details about the Western Side of Rutland and mentioned that at present 05 Nos. perennial sources of water have been tapped in the completed Stage – I of Rutland Water Supply Project and 6.60 MLD of water is being made available and transported to Pongi Balu through a 300 mm Diameter Submarine Pipeline.
MP further informed that there are 05 Nos. untapped perennial water sources on the western side of Rutland and these 05 Nos. left out sources when tapped, will provide an additional discharge of 6.0 MLD thereby augmenting the available water from the existing 6.60 MLD to 12.60 MLD. He mentioned 0.5 MLD of water will be tapped from Kiched Nallah, 1.0 MLD from Ghas Nallah, 1.0 MLD from Anarkali Nallah, 1.0 MLD from Japan Nallah and 2.5 MLD from Komio Nallah.
MP also wrote about the Eastern side of Rutland, he mentioned that there are five untapped perennial sources of water on the Eastern side of Rutland, which when tapped will provide a total discharge of 10 MLD (Million Litres per Day) of water. He informed that 4.0 MLD of water can be tapped from Chain Nallah, 3.0 MLD from Meetha Nallah, 0.5 MLD from Puranadera Nallah, 1.5 MLD from Puranadera Nallah –II and 1.0 MLD from Puranadera Nallah – III.
The Member of Parliament added that the proposal when implemented will provide a total of 22.60 MLD from Rutland.
MP informed that at present around 33.50 MLD of water is supplied to Port Blair and the additional augmented water of 22.60 MLD from Rutland will account for 67 % of the daily water requirement of Port Blair city. He added that it will not only immensely help in meeting the peak summer months demand, but if planned, organised and managed properly, it will certainly help in supplying daily water to the residents of Port Blair city during the months from July to December every year, instead of the present alternate day water supply.
MP requested the Hon’ble Lt. Governor that in the greater public interest the proposed works of Stage-I and Stage-II of the Rutland Water Supply Project may be taken up on priority as one of the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) Project of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.