Sri Vijaya Puram, April 19: In a first-of-its-kind coordinated effort, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has launched a sweeping month-long campaign ahead of the monsoon season aimed at tackling ongoing water scarcity, improving quality, and reviving neglected water bodies across the Islands to ensure longer durations of fresh water supply during dry spells.
Led by the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) and the Directorate of Education, the drive is a four-phase action plan that combines science, community action, and creativity, and brings together students, women stakeholders, local Panchayats, and technical teams under one mission- safeguard every drop.
From field testing in remote villages to science exhibitions in schools, the campaign is being rolled out across all zones of the A&N Islands with a focus on awareness, rejuvenation, and sustainability.
Four-Phase APWD Action Plan
The campaign according to officials, is structured into four phases, each addressing a specific water-related concern.
Phase 1 began with a massive water quality testing and awareness push. Water samples are being collected from homes, Anganwadi centres, community spaces, and tested using Field Testing Kits (FTKs). The unique twist? Women stakeholders – ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and elderly women, are leading the tests, promoting community-driven vigilance over drinking water safety. All results are logged on the WQIMIS portal under the Jal Jeevan Mission for transparency.
Junior Engineers from APWD have been roped in to educate school students about water quality and treatment. Students are also being taken on field visits to water treatment plants and supply infrastructure, giving them a first-hand look at the water lifecycle – from source to tap.
In Phase 2, the campaign turns its focus to cleaning and repairing water sources. This includes desilting, minor repair works, and revival of water bodies, especially the Amrit Sarovars. Local PRI (Panchayati Raj Institution) members have been tasked with leading the clean-up drives in their respective jurisdictions.
Phase 3 will see PRI members visiting water treatment plants to understand purification and distribution firsthand. These visits will be followed by community awareness meetings in each Panchayat, focusing on Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) and Greywater Management to reduce wastage at the household level.
The final Phase 4, dubbed “Zero Leakage Week,” will mobilize APWD field teams to detect and repair water leakages in the distribution system – a crucial move to plug avoidable losses in a region where every drop counts.
Parallel Campaign
Complementing this on-ground mission, the Directorate of Education has launched an island-wide school initiative to foster water conservation awareness among students. Painting, essay, and poetry competitions themed “Efficient Use of Water” are being held in schools, with top entries in each category to be awarded.
Adding further steam to the campaign was the State-Level Water Conservation Model and Project Exhibition 2025-26, held at Shiksha Sadan, Sri Vijaya Puram for South Andaman and Wimberlygunj zones, while the remaining seven zones participated online.
Inaugurated by Vikram Singh, Director of Education, the event saw students from Classes VI to IX present innovative water-saving models and ideas- from rainwater harvesting systems to homemade filters. Singh encouraged students to think of practical applications of science in everyday life, particularly in conserving rainwater.
The projects were evaluated by A. Gopal, Project Officer (CPR Environment) and Nambirajan, Assistant Engineer (Water). The event wrapped up with remarks from Ram Pravesh, Deputy Director (Science), and a vote of thanks from Rajesh Kumar Pandey, Science Consultant.
The multi-department initiative reflects a holistic approach to water management in the Islands, blending grassroots participation, scientific learning, and administrative oversight. At a time when water stress is a growing concern, especially in island regions, this campaign sends out a strong message: conservation is everyone’s business- from government engineers to school kids and village grandmothers.
