Islanders urge Administration to take Swift Action
John Wilbert and Vikramaditya, Kadamtala: Villages located under Gram Panchayat Kadamtala face acute water crisis every year during dry season, leaving residents with no choice but to fetch muddy water from nearby streams. Although it has rained since last few days but the scarcity of clean drinking water in dry season has become a pressing issue, forcing villagers to travel long distances to obtain water for their daily needs, exacerbating the challenges faced by women and children in particular.
The desperate situation has brought to light the potential solution offered by Katla Nallah, a water source known for its quality water. The villagers have expressed that building a dam at this location could solve the water problem not only in their panchayat but also in several surrounding villages.
Talking to the journalists, Mr. Subrata Basu, Adhyaksh of North and Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad and Zilla Parishad Member of Kadamtala, emphasized the importance of the Katla Nallah water source. He highlighted that for the past 12 years, they have consistently raised this matter during official visits by the Chief Secretary, District Commissioner, and other officers. The area has been surveyed by APWD officials multiple times in the past, and even the Secretary of Rural Development visited the panchayat last month. During these visits, they have urged the construction of a dam at Katla Nallah. The villagers had also emphasized the need for desilting to enhance the storage capacity of all the Minor Irrigation Ponds of Kadamtala, enabling the ponds to store more water.
In response to the crisis, a senior officer from the APWD department confirmed that the District Administration and APWD have already taken up the matter. Two weeks ago, a joint inspection of the PRI (Panchayati Raj Institution) and APWD officials was conducted at Katla Nallah to assess the water source, and a comprehensive report is being prepared.
The urgency of the situation demands swift action from the concerned authorities to address the water crisis plaguing the village under Gram Panchayat Kadamtala. The villagers, who have been suffering from the scarcity now demand to complete the project before the next dry season and every years as soon as the Monsoon arrives, the files relate to water managements are thrown in cold box, they claimed.
