Port Blair, Apr 16: Though A&N Islands receives over 3000 millimetres of rain every year, it faces acute shortage of water during the summer months. The present water problem is on account of the absence of rain from December, 2019 to till date, due to which the storage reservoirs could not get replenished with water to the optimum capacity. Under the circumstances, rain water harvesting becomes the need of the hour and the adoption of rain water harvesting practices by the residents and institutions would go a long way in addressing the shortage of domestic water requirements in the near future.
Rainwater Harvesting is a simple, cost-effective and eco-friendly method of conserving water by guiding the rainwater that falls from the rooftop through small diameter pipes to water chambers, which in addition to recharging groundwater, can be used at a later date for domestic purposes during times of need.
Hon’ble Lt. Governor, on various occasions, had stressed the importance and necessity of rain water harvesting systems in these Islands, as a sustainable water conservation and storage measure. Hon’ble Lt. Governor had also issued directions to APWD, PBMC and Rural Development / Panchayat Department to strictly implement the provisions relating to Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) systems while according building construction plan approval.
In Port Blair Municipal area, as per provisions Port Blair Municipal Council Building Bye-Laws (Amendment),2018 which came into force from 21/02/2019, all the buildings in plots having more than 100 Sqm. should have rain water harvesting structures for collection of rain water. Recently, APWD has advised all the departments of A & N Administration and Govt of India offices based in A&N Islands, to mandatorily provide /construct Rain Water Harvesting structures for both residential and non-residential buildings, providing for a minimum 30 days storage of water. The Rural Development /Panchayat Department has also notified appropriate Rules, making construction of rain water harvesting structures compulsory in the buildings in rural areas, similar to Port Blair Municipal area.
Rain water harvesting being a sustainable water management practice, needs to be pro-actively adopted by the general public to reduce their over-dependence on municipal and departmental water supply. In view of the immense benefits it provides during times of water scarcity, the general public have been requested to voluntarily install Rain Water Harvesting systems in all individual houses, residential buildings and commercial establishments, which will help in better water management. Interested residents may contact the Office of Secretary (PBMC), Director (Panchayat) and Town Planner, APWD for details / guidance on Rain Water Harvesting systems.
