Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 10: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has urged residents, institutions and commercial establishments to cut avoidable water consumption as reduced rainfall has affected the replenishment of reservoirs and drinking-water sources in the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Corporation (SVPMC) area.
According to the Administration, the islands are facing an approximately 21% rainfall deficiency during the current monsoon period, based on India Meteorological Department (IMD) data. It said 1,647 mm of rainfall was recorded in the Dhanikari area between May and September, against the normal rainfall of 4,618 mm.
The decline has affected water storage at Dhanikari Dam, a key source for drinking-water supply. The Administration said the dam currently holds 2,400 million litres (ML), compared with 7,532 ML during the corresponding period last year.
The Administration said it continues to monitor the situation and take measures to maintain drinking-water supply. At the same time, it stressed that water conservation cannot depend only on augmentation of infrastructure and requires responsible consumption by households, institutions and commercial establishments.
Residents have been advised to avoid keeping taps running while brushing, washing utensils or carrying out other household activities. Leaking taps, pipes, overhead tanks and plumbing fixtures should be repaired promptly, while automatic cut-off or float valves should be used where possible to prevent overhead tanks from overflowing.
The Administration has also asked residents to use buckets instead of running hoses to wash vehicles and outdoor areas and avoid using potable water for unnecessary cleaning of courtyards, driveways and open spaces. Water used for washing vegetables and other suitable household activities can be reused for gardening and cleaning.
Rainwater harvesting and storage have also been encouraged wherever feasible for non-potable purposes. Hotels, offices, institutions, commercial establishments and housing societies have been asked to periodically inspect internal water systems for leaks and prevent excessive consumption.
The Administration has requested residents to report leakage or avoidable wastage in the public water-supply network to the concerned APWD or SVPMC authorities.
It said parallel measures are under way to augment water sources, improve storage, reduce distribution losses and strengthen long-term water security across the islands. The Administration said such infrastructure measures need to be supported by responsible water use.
It has appealed to Islanders to make conservation a regular practice rather than a response limited to periods of scarcity.
