Member of Parliament Requests Extension of Stage – I of Rutland Water Supply Project and to Begin Stage – II to Obtain a Total of 22.60 MLD of Water from Rutland

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Port Blair, May 6: The Member of Parliament, A&N Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands to extend Stage – I of Rutland water Supply Project and to begin Stage – II water Supply Project to obtain a total of 22.60 MLD of water from existing 6.60 MLD of water from Rutland.

In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, the Member of Parliament said that he mentioned that it is encouraging to note and observe that A & N Administration is making serious note of potable water crises in the peak summer months and is taking steady steps in ameliorating the water demand of Port Blair City for summer months by initiating the feasible and viable proposals.

He further said that it has come to his notice that APWD is executing a work amounting about Rs. 22 Crore for augmenting the availability of water by 6.0 MLD from western side of Rutland by tapping 5 Nos. additional untapped perennial water sources so as to make available a total of 12.60 MLD of water from western side of Rutland.

In this regard he requested to simultaneously lay an additional 1.70 km of 300 mm dia. carbon steel submarine pipeline from RM Point, Rutland to Pongi Balu for transporting in gravity the excess available 6.0 MLD of water from these 5 Nos. untapped water sources.

“As the existing laid 300 mm dia. submarine pipeline was only designed for carrying 6.60 MLD of water and if a total of 12.60 MLD of water is forced through the existing 300 mm dia. pipeline this will completely abrade the inside surface of pipe material and will degrade and jeopardise the existing submarine pipeline within 5 years in spite of its having a service life of 25 years,” he added.

The Member of Parliament mentioned that executing only the augmenting part of sources on western side of Rutland and not laying additional required Submarine Pipeline will be an unfruitful expenditure and will surely be an exchequer loss, as the sole purpose of making available 12.60 MLD of water from western side of Rutland will not be met.

Also he mentioned that the Eastern side of Rutland wherein 5 Nos. untapped perennial water sources will result in another 10 MLD of water made available for the general populace of Port Blair City.