Port Blair, Sept. 7: The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi today visited Old Pahadgaon area (Ward no 16) where he met the residents of Telugu Basti whose houses were affected due to water logging following the heavy rain which lashed the city yesterday.
The Lt. Governor, accompanied by a team of Officers of the Administration, personally inspected the main drain in the locality, the depth of which was reduced due to accumulation of filth & mud in yesterday’s heavy rain.
The Lt. Governor, after giving a patient hearing to the grievances of the affected families, gave on the spot directions to provide immediate relief to the residents/families. The Lt. Governor asked the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman to immediately provide food items to the affected families. He also directed the APWD to take up the construction of a wall to arrest mud sliding, which has resulted in the accumulation of filth/mud in the open drain.
The Lt. Governor further directed the Chairperson, Port Blair Municipal Council to take immediate steps to de-silt the drain by involving all manpower available so that the problem of water logging can be solved instantaneously, which, he said, will provide relief to the affected families.
The Lt. Governor asked the Deputy Commissioner to immediately remove the encroachment in that area which has hampered the flow of water into drain. He also directed the DCSA to make an assessment of the damage caused to people at Telugu Basti due to heavy rain, so that required financial assistance can be provided as per the guidelines laid by the Govt. of India.
When the Lt. Governor was apprised about the poor quality of drinking water being supplied to the residents of Telugu Basti, he asked the concerned authorities to take two samples of water i.e. one from the APWD storage/treatment plant from where the water is being supplied and other from the taps of the residents so that responsibility can be fixed and the problem can be solved.
The Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray was also present on the occasion and apprised the Lt Governor about the grievances of the affected families. The Secretary to the Lt. Governor, Dr. A.K. Singla, the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, Shri Udit Prakash Rai, The Secretary PBMC, Shri Yashpal Garg, the Chairperson PBMC, Smt. Sheela Singh, Sr. Vice Chairperson and also the Ward Councillor Ward No. 16, Smt. S. Usha, Officials from the District Administration were present during the visit of the Lt Governor.
