Shillong, July 25:
Brief
– Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS)
– The Scheme will provide clean drinking water to about 22,943 people of Sohra and its 12 surrounding villages
– Scheme sanctioned by Ministry of DoNER under NESIDS
– Scheme is 90% completed
Full Report
Despite receiving one of the highest rainfalls in the world, Sohra (previously known as Cherrapunjee) faces the problem of water shortage and the inhabitants in some areas have to trek for miles to obtain potable water.
As a step to mitigate this problem, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated the Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS), which will provide clean drinking water to about 22,943 people of Sohra and its 12 surrounding villages.
The scheme is sanctioned by the Ministry of DoNER under the NESIDS at the cost of Rs. 24.08 crore.
Inaugurated the Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme in Sohra, Meghalaya.
This project worth ₹25 crore is a collective effort of NESIDS and @MDoNER_India, which will provide clean drinking water to about 22,943 people of Sohra and its 12 surrounding villages. pic.twitter.com/edCbbBoYxU
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 25, 2021
Sohra, previously known as Cherrapunjee, is a Sub-Division in the East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya and is located 54 kms south of Meghalaya’s capital Shillong. It receives average rainfall of 12,000 mm a year but more than 80 percent of rains in Sohra fall in the months of May – September. Despite high rainfall, Sohra faces shortage of drinking water.
The GSWSS was required to address the need for drinking water supply in adequate quantity on regular and long term basis for the residents of Sohra. Sohra already has atleast four water supply schemes but they are inadequate to meet the current demand as they were sanctioned over 20 years back.
Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme objectives
– The project aims at providing water supply to Sohra Town and 12 habitations viz. Sderkariah, KhliehShnong, Maraikaphon, Pdengshnong, Nongrim, Pomsohmen, Nongsawlia, Mawkisyiem, Saitsohpen, Mawpunkyrtiang, Pynshadkhurai & Kutmadan by tapping the stream source of Wah Lyngksiar and Law Sanlait Spring Sources.
– The project is designed to cover an ultimate population of 22,943 persons.
Work status of Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme
– Ministry of DoNER sanctioned the Greater Sohra (Cherrapunjee) Water Supply Project for Central Financial Assistance under NESIDS for 100 percent Central Share in February 2019 and the 1st installment of Rs 9.92 crores was released on 22/08/2019.
– The various components of the work include construction of RCC Weirs, laying of gravity main and clear water main pipelines, construction of RCC storage tanks and Intze type overhead reservoir, construction of SSF (Slow Sand Filtration), construction of clean water reservoir, construction of 13 zonal tanks, laying of distribution pipeline, construction of staff quarters at treatment plant and construction of treatment plant laboratory.
– The second and final installment of14.89 Crores was released to the state in June 2021.
Visit to Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama
Later, the Union Home Minister also visited the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama in Sohra, where he paid tributes to Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Ji and Swami Vivekananda Ji.
“Ramakrishna Mission is doing a great service to humanity following the teaching and ideals of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Ji,” he said on his visit.
