Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 18 May 2024
Water, an invaluable natural resource, is crucial for human survival. Although two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, only two to three percent of it is usable. Amidst a growing global water crisis, India is also grappling with severe water scarcity. In response, the Hon’ble Prime Minister initiated the construction of 75 Amrit Sarovars (ponds) in each district across the country, aiming to enhance both surface and underground water availability.
The Amrit Sarovar Project, involving multiple agencies including the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD), led to the development of numerous ponds. However, in Great Nicobar, one such pond near Mariamman Temple, opposite the Electricity Office in Campbell Bay, has been rendered useless due to APWD’s negligence, despite substantial public funds being spent on its construction.
The soil from one side of the pond has slid off into the water, covering an entire side wall of the rectangular pond. This has resulted in the water becoming extremely muddy, rendering it unusable for the community. The failure to properly treat the bund, as mandated by Point 6.3.10 of the Amrit Sarovar Guidelines—which stipulates thorough layer-wise compaction, including machinery use, turfing, and appropriate slope maintenance—has been cited as a key reason for the pond’s failure.
The mismanagement and poor execution of the project have raised concerns about the misuse of public funds. It is the duty of the officials overseeing such projects to ensure every rupee is spent judiciously and responsibly. However, the substandard work accepted by APWD officials in this case is alarming.
Adding to the concern is the fact that a picture of the damaged pond has been uploaded on the Mission Amrit Sarovar website, seemingly without any fear of accountability. Despite the pond being rendered essentially useless due to the loose soil, APWD has not initiated any repair steps, displaying a lack of urgency and responsibility.
Moreover, there is no signage at the pond site, leaving the public in the dark about the project’s cost and other essential details. This lack of transparency further undermines public trust in the management of such initiatives.
The situation calls for immediate action from the authorities to rectify the pond’s condition and ensure that such negligence does not recur, thereby upholding the integrity of the Amrit Sarovar Project and the responsible use of public funds.