Tsunami rehabilitation work may be further delayed

Port Blair, Jun 23 (UNI) Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lt General(Retd) Bhopinder Singh today said construction work of permanent shelter for people affected by tsunami may not finish before the deadline.

He said due to various factors, the permanent shelter construction work may not be completed as per earlier announced date ie by December 31.

''The slippage will be mainly because inaccessibility of various remote islands. For example Border Road Organisation (BRO) is still working in Campbell Bay islands to provide access to administration for tsunami rehabilitation works. Delay will mostly be in the southern regions,'' Lt General Singh told reporters in Andaman.

He said because of some disputes in Hut Bay, the work of permanent shelter construction was delayed in the region.

''Though the new dateline is not decided till now but I want that everybody should be inside their respective shelter before next monsoon,'' the Lt Governor added.

He also assured that his efforts for mitigation of water crisis in Andaman will not end with the arrival of monsoon.

''Let me tell you that the arrival of monsoon is not the solution. People may be happy but I am not. I want a permanent solution,'' Lt Governor Singh said.

He said he is looking towards solving the water crisis which he believes would not end with the monsoon this year.

''I want to make sure that there is enough water next year and everybody should get water; if not daily, at least every alternate day,'' he said.

UNI