Staff Correspondent
Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 20: The BJP, Andaman and Nicobar Islands State Unit. Mr. Anil Kumar Tiwari today highlighted what it described as major progress on several long-pending issues of the Islands, particularly the power and drinking water sectors, following the recent visit of a party delegation to New Delhi led by its State President Mr. Anil Kumar Tiwari.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Tiwari said that after assuming charge as BJP State President on July 1, 2025, he had decided to focus particularly on the long-standing issues of electricity, drinking water, roads and employment. He said that these concerns had repeatedly been raised before him by Islanders and senior citizens during his visits to different parts of the Islands.
Mr. Tiwari said that when Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah visited the Islands in April, the BJP had submitted an 11-point memorandum concerning major issues affecting the Islands. Subsequently, six priority demands were identified and a delegation led by him visited New Delhi in July to pursue them with the party’s national leadership and concerned Union Ministries.
Breaking the press conference with what he described as important developments, Mr. Tiwari said that approval had been received for a 50 MW LNG-based power project at Hopetown, with work being taken forward through NTPC. He said the project was expected to provide a more permanent solution to the power shortage affecting South Andaman and other areas.
On the drinking water issue, Mr. Tiwari announced that an MoU had recently been signed between the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and the Central Water Commission for taking forward proposals relating to two new dams, including at Guptapara and Makkapahar. He claimed that the combined storage capacity of the proposed projects would be substantially higher than that of the existing Dhanikhari Dam and would significantly strengthen water security in the future.
He said the existing Dhanikhari Dam was constructed when the population dependent on it was much lower, whereas the present demand had increased considerably with population growth and tourism. According to him, strengthening water infrastructure through additional reservoirs would help ensure regular water supply and also provide greater security during prolonged dry periods.
Mr. Tiwari further said that the BJP delegation had also raised the issue of a domicile policy to provide greater employment opportunities to local youth, particularly in Group B and Group C posts. He expressed hope that positive developments would take place on the matter in the coming months. He also said that the party would continue pursuing issues relating to the restoration of powers of elected PRI representatives, health facilities and compensation and rehabilitation concerns connected with major projects.
He said that several water-related projects were also being pursued in other parts of the Islands, including Mayabunder, Diglipur, Rangat, Campbell Bay, Teressa and Chowra. He referred to reservoirs, ponds, borewells and studies for additional water sources as measures being taken or pursued to improve water availability in different regions.
Mr. Tiwari thanked the Central Government, the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Secretary and the Administration for their cooperation. He also acknowledged the role of Member of Parliament Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray and said that he had learned from him the importance of continuously working for public issues.
Speaking earlier, BJP Vice President Mr. Sher Singh said that the delegation had prioritised six major demands out of the earlier 11-point memorandum and placed them before the party’s national leadership and concerned authorities in New Delhi. He said the delegation had met BJP National President Mr. Nitin Nabin, party National General Secretary Mr. B.L. Santhosh and Union Jal Shakti Minister Mr. C.R. Patil, among others.
Mr. Sher Singh said the priority demands included drinking water, restoration of powers of elected representatives, a domicile policy, strengthening health facilities and other important issues concerning Islanders. He said the delegation had received a positive response and that several matters were now moving forward.
BJP Office Secretary Dr. R. Devdas, who also addressed the press conference, said the recent Delhi visit was part of the follow-up action on the demands earlier submitted during the visit of the Union Home Minister. He said that apart from the proposed 50 MW energy project, the party had been continuously pursuing drinking water projects across the Islands.
He referred to ongoing and proposed water infrastructure initiatives in different parts of the Islands and said the objective was not limited to Sri Vijaya Puram and South Andaman alone, but was to address water requirements from Campbell Bay to Diglipur and in remote islands as well.
Earlier, BJP leader Mr. Ellango, State Media Convener also spoke about development projects undertaken since the BJP came to power at the Centre and referred to projects such as the submarine optical fibre cable and other infrastructure initiatives in the Islands.
The BJP leaders said that the party would continue to pursue the remaining demands with the Central Government and concerned Ministries until further progress was achieved.
