John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, August 31: A massive protest rally was organised at Kamorta Island today at around 10:00 AM at Kamorta Island, which started from Kamorta bazar and converged at the Assistant Commissioner’s office.
The protest, organied by the Tribal Council Nancowry and fuming residents, was spearheaded by Mrs. Ayesha Majid, Chairperson of the Nancowry Tribal Council, along with key figures including Mr. Aslam Majid, the First Captain, Chals Jacob, Chairman of Kamorta, Nasir Ahmed, the Second Captain, and Thofiq Ahem, the Third Captain. A gathering of approximately 150 Islanders hailing from diverse hamlets across Kamorta Island united in this demonstration.
The rallying cry behind this fervent assembly was the grave distress over the persistently muddy and yellowish water supplied through the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) pipeline network. Reports resonate with deep apprehension, revealing that the water quality situation has deteriorated over the past four months, fuelling mounting frustrations.
Investigations reveal that the source of water for the affected villages rests in a storage tank situated at the Nancowrie Water Treatment Plant. This facility serves as the distribution hub for the drinking water channeled through the APWD pipelines. However, the very lifeline of this distribution network has been allegedly compromised, compelling the community into action.
Initial attempts by local law enforcement to placate the demonstrators proved ineffective, as the protestors remained steadfast in their pursuit of redressal. Subsequently, the villagers sought an audience with the Assistant Commissioner Kamorta.
Later during a meeting, members of the tribal council, including Mrs. Ayesha Majid, spoke to Mr. Shiv Singh Meena DANICS, Assistant Commissioner Kamorta, in the presence of Mr. SK Gupta, an Assistant Engineer from the Electricity Department. During the meeting the Assistant Commissioner reportedly assured swift action and resolution in the matter. This assurance led to the cessation of the protest at approximately 12:00 PM.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr. Aslam Majid, the First Captain, underscored the urgency of the situation, revealing that countless individuals had suffered severe health repercussions due to the consumption of tainted water over the past four months.
Assistant Engineer Mr. SK Gupta shed light on the root cause of the situation, attributing it to complications within the filter bed of the water treatment plant. Mr. Gupta elaborated that previous attempts to rectify this problem involved the initiation of a tender process for the replacement of the filter bed. However, these efforts encountered a significant roadblock such as a lack of participants led to the cancellation of the tender bids on multiple occasions.
Mr. Gupta expressed his commitment to resolving the issue, pledging to initiate a fresh tender within a week’s time.
