Scribes join hands to spread awareness on water conservation

Port Blair, Feb 11 (UNI) All the scribes and owners of newspapers in Andaman and Nicobar islands have formed''Vikash Manch'' to spread awareness about water conservation in the remote archipelago.

'' We have decided to launch a massive drive to spread awareness among islanders about conserving water, ''Govind Raju convener of Vikash Manch told UNI today, adding that it would be a first major task of the 'Manch'.

Andaman and Nicobar was presently reeling under water scarcity, and the experts had attributed one of the reasons of this scarcity to water wastage at houses and leaking pipelines.

'' Presently thirty per cent water is being wasted, which is huge and the best short term measure to deal with water shortage will be to minimise this wastage. The Vikash Manch has taken the responsibility and soon we will launch the awareness campaign with the help of local media, '' Mr Raju said, who works as an Editor of an English Weekly in Andaman.

The Vikash Manch, forum for intellectuals in Andamans, is the brainchild of Dr G D Badgaiyan, secretary to Andaman's Information and Publicity Department.

'' This is the platform where general public can openly ask questions to senior officers on any serious matter and every discussion will be covered by all print and electronic media, '' Mr Raju said.

UNI