Port Blair, Jan 28: The Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands for an early execution of stage- II proposal of Rutland water supply project.

In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, the Member of Parliament mentioned that the successful completion of Stage-I in December 2021 marked a major milestone in addressing the water needs of Port Blair City. The project delivered a crucial 6.60 Million Litres of water daily from Rutland to Pongi Balu – Dhanikhari Dam, providing a respite to the growing demand for water.

“However, the periodic increase in both fixed and floating population in Port Blair Town, coupled with the rapid pace of developmental activities in and around the city, has led to a consistent rise in the demand for water. This year APWD has already started water curtailment,” he pointed out.

Moreover, after inauguration of Port Blair’s International Airport, tourism will also get a massive boost and the demand for water will increase many fold.

Recognizing this, he proposed the immediate consideration and execution of Stage-II of the Rutland Water Supply Project to meet the anticipated water requirements for the next 15-20 years in Port Blair City.

The Member of Parliament added that the Stage-II Proposal outlines tapping five untapped perennial water sources on the Eastern side of Rutland, with a cumulative discharge of 10 Million Litres per Day (MLD).

The Member of Parliament requested intervention and support of Hon’ble Lt. Governor to prioritize this proposal, ensuring its swift execution.

He added that this step will mitigate the water demand in Port Blair City during the crucial summer months from January to May, guaranteeing an adequate water supply for the general public.