During sixties, in order to overcome problem of rehabilitating the migrated population, various locations were explored by the Ministry of rehabilitation, Government of India. Andaman & Nicobar Island were spotted as one of the promising place having the sufficient natural wealth for supporting the mass. However being uninhabited, basic amenities were required to be setup before taking up any rehabilitation.

Accordingly an organization namely jetty construction circle was formed in October, 1965 headed by Principal Engineer (Marine). It was set up by the Ministry of Shipping in October 1965 and entrusted with the responsibility of formulating and implementing the Programmes of the Government for providing Ports and harbour structures including allied facilities in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. During 1967 the work of providing of landing facilities at various inhabited island of Lakshadweep was also entrusted to this organization after which the name of organization was made as Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works (ALHW). It was since then headed by The Chief Engineer & Administrator with head office at Port Blair.

A well-knit and coordinated Port / Shipping system plays an important role in the sustained growth of the Islands. The need for Ports became more pronounced in these Islands in view of the accelerated developmental programs proposed by the Government during the sixties. The infrastructure, therefore, had to be fully planned properly and in advance.

The ALHW has been implementing Port Development schemes from the Third Five Year Plan onwards. All the works taken up under these plans have been completed in time and being maintained and operated successfully. Reviewing the Port Development Schemes implemented in
A & N Islands so far, this department has created artificial harbours at Hut Bay of Little Andaman, Campbell Bay of Great Nicobar, Rangat Bay of Middle Andaman and Mus of Car Nicobar by construction of Rubble Mound Breakwaters with jetties/wharves and allied facilities. Further, in the other natural harbours of the Islands, a number of inter-island jetties and innumerable ferry jetties have also been completed in addition to the New Dry Dock / Slipway Complex at Port Blair for repairs of Inter Island ships and other ferry boats. In respect of Lakshadweep, jetties have been constructed in all the 10 islands and the approach channels dredged and navigational aids provided. Sheltered harbour basins were created at Androth and Kalpeni Islands with Breakwater and wharf for berthing passenger ships and cargo barges having upto 4m and 1.8m draughts respectively.

The ALHW is headed by the Chief Engineer & Administrator and has five Circles in A&N Islands and one Circle in Lakshadweep. The Headquarter office of the ALHW was shifted to Port Blair from New Delhi in May 1984.

The ALHW, in the past 39 years has constructed various harbour facilities in the major islands as per the requirements in a phased manner after conducting detailed hydrographic surveys at site, model studies & experiments at Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune and other consultants such as Indian Institute of Technology, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai, NEERI Nagpur, NIO Goa, CESS, M/s. Richardson & Cruddas etc.

In addition to the Harbour developmental activities, the ALHW has also taken up and completed a number of prestigious buildings, roads and bridges for A & N Administration, Banks, Survey of India, Doordarshan, Municipal council, Zilla Parishad, Directorate of Audit, NIOT, MPLAD etc. as Deposit Works.

Apart from construction of port and harbour facilities, the ALHW is attending to the maintenance of the harbour facilities and also the operation and maintenance of Cargo Handling Equipments, Ship Repair facilities etc. The ALHW executed these major projects in the islands for which the funds were provided directly by the Ministry of Shipping under Central Sector Plan. The Andaman & Nicobar Administration and Lakshadweep Administration have also provided the required funds under the State Sector plans for improvements to the harbour facilities, for creation of minor port development schemes, and also for the maintenance of the Port facilities and operation of Cargo handling equipments etc.

The ALHW takes special care in protecting the ecology of these sensitive Islands during planning, execution and maintenance of the harbour facilities. The required Environmental Management Plans are prepared in consultation with expert organisations in the field and the clearance of the Ministry of Environment & Forests are obtained for all the Projects. An environment laboratory headed by Senior Scientist, functions for monitoring environment aspects of different projects being undertaken by the department. The Environment lab which was setup during June 2001 has state of the art equipments to monitor air, water pollutions etc.

Earthquake and Tsunami Effect on Port Structures in A & N Islands

A severe earthquake of high intensity with a magnitude 8.9 shook the Andaman and Nicobar islands on 26.12.2004 between 0630 hrs to 0635 hrs followed by tsunami the killer wave upto 1130 hrs. The epicenter was at 3.7 N and 75 E off the Sumatra Island of Indonesia.

The above earthquake was one of the most powerful since the start of the 20th century and it was the fifth largest since 1900. Because of the size of this severe earthquake, a very many number of after shock effects were felt since 26.12.2004.

Due to the complex and composite calamity of the earthquake that was followed by the disastrous Tsunami waves, extensive damages caused to human lives, to port, harbour and allied structures including buildings in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The disturbed water wanting to settle down started to spread side ways. It formed huge waves that traveled at a speed of 800km/hr (like a jet air plane) all through out the Indian Ocean. Locally it hit the shore lines very hard and at some places less depending on many factor. The impact of this earthquake followed by devastating Tsunami waves effected port infrastructures badly. The south Andaman Islands were worst hit.

Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works has been functioning in these Islands for about 40 years and all the Officers, Staff and Workers of this Department are very well acquainted with the local conditions, nature of working and also supervising techniques suiting to the remote and local conditions.
Most of the Officers and Staff of this Department have undergone specialized training courses to update themselves with the latest state-of-the-art technology and they are quite competent than any other Port Engineers of other parts of this country.

Above all, Officers, Staff and Workmen of this Department have excellent co-ordination and highly motivated for undertaking any major projects – design, planning and execution in almost all the remote islands of this archipelago. With this background the Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works rose to the occasion and made 41 jetties fit out of 49. Import structures were made fit on the same day i.e. on 26.12.2005.

This has been very well noticed and very much appreciated by the senior Officers of A & N Administration especially in the ports and harbours after Tsunami scenario wherein this Department has put in valiant efforts and achieved maximum by commissioning most the jetties operational and fit for berthing of vessels which has helped the shipping activities to resume as the shipping is the lifeline of these islands.
 
With this background, ALHW has prepared detailed Action Plan for rehabilitation / reconstruction of Ports and Harbour structures as detailed below:

Titles	(Rs. In crores)
1. Rehabilitation of damaged Port structures	347.71
2. Creation of Additional Port facilities	698.42
3. Creation of Additional facilities on Turn-Key Basis	560.20
	--------
Total	1606.33
The proposed phasing of expenditure is as under:
	(Rs. In crores)
2004-05 :	2.85
2005-06 :	186.31
2006-07 :	279.40
2007-08 :	428.75
2008-09 :	366.31
2009-10 :	342.71

The Organisation Chart showing the functional wing of ALHW is also detailed below:

 

Last Update : 01-Sep-2016