SHILLONG, FEB 14: Completion of the much-awaited Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) phase-III has now been further delayed due to alleged failure of the Hima Mawphlang to give land for setting up of a pumping station.

According to the Minister incharge Public Health Engineering (PHE) Marcuise N Marak, the demands of the Hima Mawphlang keep on increasing despite the government’s readiness to provide jobs to around 20 people from the area.

“We are still in the process of negotiation and we hope we will get it resolved very soon,” Marak told reporters.

“They (Hima) have several issues. They need some employment and the government has already agreed (in a cabinet meeting) to give appointments to around 20 plus people under the department,” he said. He said, “We have sent a letter to them requesting for submission of the names but till now, they have not submitted.”

Asked, Marak said, “We are just awaiting their applications (recommended by Hima) now. Once we receive them we are ready to give the appointments.”

“The land required for setting up of the second pumping set – that will push the water from the river to the treatment plant – is about 2-3 hectares. That space which we need Hima Mawphlang to give us,” he added.

The implementation of the project started way back in 2008.

The minister said that the government is without any option since the land belongs to the Hima Mawphlang.

“I am also wondering. I am trying my level best, engineers are also trying their level best but they keep on increasing their demand. What can we do, we don’t have any option as land is with them but we are still negotiating,” he said.

Stating that the project has gone through lots of hurdles in the past as well, Marak said, “Every time we start negotiation with the different stakeholders, different new issues come up which is why it is delayed till now also.”

In regards to laying of pipelines, the minister said, “In almost all the zones around 12 of them, laying of pipelines have started, some have been completed and some are ongoing. Because of the delay, they have requested for the revised estimate which we have agreed.”

“Now only the pumping set has to be installed and once it is installed, the project will be completed,” he added.

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