Port Blair, 12th March, 2008

After a series of stakeholders meeting in different parts of the Andaman region like Diglipur, Rangat & Baratang, a consolidated Regional Seminar on 'Water and Island's Development was organized by the Andaman Water Project of Emmanuel Hospital Association at Megapode Resort on 12th March, 2008. Introducing the seminar Mr. Abraham Dennyson, Project Manager in background paper presented the water scenario in the Island and expressed the concern that are arising out of it. The Chief Guest was Shri Arvind Ray, Commissioner cum Secretary – Higher Education for the Andaman and Nicobar Island. Shri Ray in his address said that the Administration would welcome recommendation coming out of this seminar. Also present as Guest of Honour was Kumari Miriam Bibi, Chairperson of the Zilla Parishad.

The Keynote Address was delivered by Shri R.C. Srivastava, Director – Central Agricultural Research Institute on Water Resources Development in the Island: A Futuristic Vision. Mrs. Rita and Shri Jenson Daniel of the B.R. Ambedkar Government Polytechnic did a presentation on the ‘Water Quality in the Island’ which showed staggering data on feacal contamination in water sources in the island tested by them. The Executive Engineers – Public Health Engineering Department of the PWD and Assistant Engineers from the Zilla Parishad on their role in tackling the water situation in the island.

The post-lunch session consisted of and Open Forum wherein people from the floor participated, followed by group work to work on recommendation for augmenting the water situation in the island. Recommendations arising out of the Seminar are as follows:

1. Administration must make rainwater harvesting mandatory both for existing and new buildings in urban areas and promote it by way of subsidy and easy loans.
2. Ground water assessment need to be done urgently and a Monitoring Body need to set up to regulate ground water extraction.
3. Watershed management should be taken up all over Andaman, including forest land.
4. Strengthen the existing water treatment system and put monitoring system in place to follow BIS guidelines on water.
5. The administration provides health and education services to encroachers and similarly there need for clean drinking water has to be met.
6. Empower & decentralize water supply system under PRIs
7. Introduce water meters to make users accountable.
8. Enhance Inter-departmental coordination and cooperation to expedite (Forest Department, PWD, Zilla Parishad and PRIs) to access and protect sources in forests using environmentally sustainable technology.
9. Strengthen regular maintenance of existing supply and storage systems to prevent wastage.
10. Measures need to be taken to protect sources
11. Promote awareness of relevant laws e.g. forest conservation act and scheduled tribes and forest dwellers (recognition of forest rights)

Winners of the competition on the theme ‘Alternate Models of Water Augmentation in the Island’ were recognized during the Seminar. The first prize went to Mr. Neeraj - 6th Semester student of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Government Polytechnic. The second prize was given to Miss. T. K. Saptha Rakshika a student of Class VII in Kamraj English Medium School. The third prize to Mr. Md. Kamran Khan, a B.Com 1st Year of JNRM College and one consolation prize went to Mr. Jaikaar Singh Sahi, a Class X student of Navy Children School.