Andaman: Water crisis in tsunami-hit areas solved

Port Blair, May 31: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has found solution to the severe water crisis in its southern region, inundated with sea water by tsunami in 2004.

As the main Dhanikhari Dam in South Andaman has less depth, much of the rainwater overflows during causing a shortage usually in summer.

'' We are planning to use the sea water inundated area for storing rainwater after constructing sea wall,'' South Andaman Deputy Commissioner K S Singh told sources today.

The dam, which is known as the lifeline of this union territory, can store 11,440 lakh gallons of water for supply to the city for 150 days if there is no rainfall and the reservoir is full.

At present Port Blair only requires around 58 lakh gallons of water everyday while according to official figures the wastage 30 per cent.

A vast area was inundated by sea water since the tsunami struck this archipelago in 2004.

''If we construct a mud wall between sea and these lands, we will get a huge water reservoir,''Mr Singh said.

The engineers of APWD have plans to take up only the inundated land in Sippighat area of South Andaman.

Experts of APWD believe that after one or two heavy rainfall, when these newly created water reservoir would overflow, salt dissolved in water would be flushed out into sea and fresh water will be left behind for future use.

''With the newly created water body we will be able to store more than the Dhanikhari Dam, which will be enough to cater all local need,'' Andaman Public Work Department Superintending Engineer B N Malhotra told sources here today.

Meanwhile, the Andaman administration have already held a meeting of farmers, who own the inundated land, for acquisition under government rules.

The APWD is also planning to raise the height of the dam by four metres, which would further increase the water storage capacity.

''By raising the height, the storage capacity of the Dam will be increased by 70 per cent, the Deputy Commissioner said.

South Andamans region, especially Port Blair, is facing water crisis since last many years but this year it is acute.

The administration had recently decided to stop water supply through pipe-lines from June 6 due to low gravity pressure in Dhanikhari Dam, the lone Dam of South Andaman.

People living in South Andaman will be supplied water only though tankers on head count basis from June 6, under the supervision of politicians, revenue officials and armed police personnel to prevent water riots.

UNI