SHILLONG, MAY 5: The cost of Phase-I of the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme has risen by Rs 217 crore to Rs 770 crore, with the state Cabinet approving the revised estimate on Tuesday, citing relocation of the dam, dedicated power lines, and land acquisition as key reasons.

Cabinet Minister and MDA spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla said the earlier estimate stood at Rs 553 crore.

“The state cabinet has approved the revised estimates of New Shillong Water Supply Scheme Phase-I. The revised estimate is Rs 770 crore from Rs 553 crore,” he said.

The dam site had to be shifted upstream after the government identified Nonghali as a feasible location for a scientific landfill.

“This is because of the shifting of the area for construction of a dam where we have to take it upstream with the coming up of the scientific landfill in Nonghali,” Shylla explained.

Additional costs were also incurred for laying dedicated electrical lines for the project. Land acquisition requirements further pushed up the estimate.

“We have to have dedicated electrical lines — that has also increased the cost and at the same time because for the land acquisition as we will be needing a lot of land,” he said.

On the timing of the shift, Shylla said the landfill site was not finalized when the water supply scheme was planned.

“This was way before because during the scientific landfill, many EOIs came in. So at that point of time we did not know which landfill will be suitable. When they went for inspection then only they came to know that Nonghali is feasible,” he said.

He added that the PHE department’s plan for the water supply scheme was already in place by then.

“Later on we realized it is for the water supply scheme so it cannot be near the landfill. So that is why we have to push it upstream,” Shylla said.