Sri Vijaya Puram, 21 May — As the monsoon clouds drench the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, residents of Sri Vijaya Puram are confronting a worsening water crisis that refuses to ease. Despite several days of steady rainfall, large sections of the city continue to face supply disruptions, with two of its main treatment plants—Lamba Line and Garacharama—functioning well below capacity due to mechanical breakdowns and decaying infrastructure.
Officials from the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD), which maintains the plants, have acknowledged the seriousness of the problem. Both facilities are battling severe damage to their pumping systems, drastically limiting the output of treated water. Only temporary repairs have been carried out, and they are proving ineffective against the rising demand. “Permanent solutions are stuck in procedural bottlenecks,” a senior engineering official said, requesting anonymity.
The biggest hurdle, officials explain, lies in the mandatory use of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal for procurement. While the portal was introduced to bring transparency to government spending, its rigid structure is now under scrutiny for slowing emergency response. Even basic component replacements require multiple layers of approval, leaving critical systems in prolonged disrepair.
In the meantime, the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipality has resorted to rationing. Supply hours have been slashed, and contingency operations are in place to ensure minimum distribution. Localities such as Haddo, Lamba Line, and Garacharama are among the worst hit, with many households receiving water for barely 20 minutes a day. “It feels like we’re back in the 1980s,” said one resident, clutching plastic drums and buckets to store what little they get.
Adding to the frustration is the fact that water levels at Dhanikhari Dam—one of the city’s main sources—have begun to rise, standing at 56 metres as of this week. While still below the full reservoir level of 66 metres, officials had hoped the early monsoon showers would ease pressure on supply. Instead, the grim reality persists: water is available, but the infrastructure to deliver it remains crippled.
Experts warn that the problem is systemic. Much of the city’s water distribution network is built on obsolete technology—aging pipelines, corroded valves, and worn-out motors. The crisis, they say, was predictable and preventable had timely upgrades been undertaken.
Public anger is growing. Many residents blame years of administrative neglect and short-term fixes. Calls are mounting for the APWD and civic authorities to set up an emergency utility response mechanism that can operate outside GeM protocols in critical cases. Some experts have proposed a dedicated fund for fast-track repairs and partnerships with private sector vendors for phased infrastructure replacement.
For now, residents of Sri Vijaya Puram must rely on narrow supply windows and improvisation to get through each day. Despite the rains falling outside, inside many homes, the taps remain dry.
