Congress demands resignation of PBMC councillors

Port Blair, Apr 15 (UNI) The Congress has demanded resignation of the Port Blair Municipal Council(PBMC) Chairman and councillors for failing to effectively supply water during the peak crisis season.

The Islands presently reeling under severe water crisis, where PBMC supplies water to houses for about eight days in a whole month.

''The PBMC has failed to provide us sufficient amount of drinking water, for which the councillors and the chairman of PBMC have no moral right to continue with their respective posts and we demand their resignation,'' Chief spokesperson for Andaman and Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee(ANTCC) K Ganeshan told UNI yesterday.

Mr Ganeshan said the PBMC has also failed to tap the potential of all perennial sources of drinking water in South Andaman for public use.

''In Rut Island, which is close to Port Blair, there are over 14 major streams that disgorge millions of litres of crystal clear fresh water into the sea. This huge amount of water being wasted everyday would put the best mineral water in the world to shame, and the PBMC is unable to bring that water to Port Blair, where many water riots have already been reported,'' he added.

Speaking to mediapersons here, the senior congress leader also demanded waiving of water tax in Port Blair for this year.

''Why to charge water tax when PBMC is providing water for just eight days a month to this city,'' he added.

Meanwhile, series stirs are being organised across Andaman group of islands against scarcity of drinking water. Some areas of Middle and North Andaman are also having serious water shortage, due to delay in Monsoon.

At present, the PBMC has a Chairman of Bharatiya Janta Party while most of the other councillors are of the DMK and RJD.

UNI