The Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS), under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD), is organising a five-day residential training programme on rural water supply management. Scheduled from 24th to 28th February 2025, this initiative aims to equip engineers with essential skills to improve water supply systems in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Recognising the challenges of poor operation and maintenance (O&M) practices, the training focuses on system inefficiencies, non-revenue water (NRW), high energy consumption, and weak community engagement. Engineers will gain practical knowledge to enhance water management and service delivery.
This programme will also be conducted in other states and union territories in phases. Shri Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, inaugurated the session as the Chief Guest. He emphasised the need for training field engineers to sustain rural water supply schemes. He also highlighted shifting the focus from supply management to demand-side management.
The primary objective of this training is to strengthen the operational and managerial skills of Junior Engineers (JEs) and Assistant Engineers (AEs) in the Andaman & Nicobar administration. Experts from SPM-NIWAS, in consultation with APWD officials, designed the programme, covering:
- Water supply systems and challenges in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- Safe drinking water standards as per BIS guidelines and sample collection frequency.
- Operation and maintenance of surface water-based schemes, including spring sources, sand filters, and pressure filters.
- Distribution management and maintenance strategies.
- Methods to reduce water loss and control non-revenue water (NRW).
- Citizen service delivery, grievance redressal, and community participation in water management.
- Financial planning for rural water supply management.
Shri Priyatu Mandal, IAS, Joint Secretary cum Director & Head of SPM-NIWAS, joined the inaugural session virtually. He reiterated that SPM-NIWAS is dedicated to advancing knowledge and capacity-building in the water and sanitation sectors.
The event saw participation from key officials, including Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, Secretary RD; Mr. Azharuddin Zahiruddin Quazi, IAS, Secretary PBMC; Mohd. Ishfaq, (Retd. IAS), Adviser, SPM-NIWAS; Shri T.K. Prijith Ray, Chief Engineer, APWD; Vinay Harswal, Nodal Officer, SPM-NIWAS; and Abirami Devdas, Principal Scientist, ICCW. Their presence highlighted the importance of this initiative in improving water management in the region.
Through such capacity-building programmes, the government aims to ensure sustainable rural water supply management, ultimately benefiting local communities and strengthening water security in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
