Shillong, Sept 27: The Public Health Engineering (PHE) department has sought additional Rs 66 crore for the completion of the much awaited Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) phase-III.

Informing this on Tuesday, PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak said that the project cost has escalated due to delay in completion since 2008.

“We are seeking additional Rs 66 crore to meet the escalation cost. This has to be borne by the State government,” he said while adding that approximately Rs 300 crore has been sanctioned for implementation of the project.

Marak said that the GSWSS-III also got delayed due to various reasons including fund constraints.

“It was sanctioned in the year 2008. By the time it was sanctioned, immediately we call the tender and works was awarded. First instalment was released and later on, several instalments got delayed because of late release from Government of India and there was some change of guard also, that is why it was delayed,” he said.

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He said another reason was because the PHE was not getting permission from the Public Works Department (PWD) for laying the pipeline for distribution of water to the 12 zones in the entire Shillong city.

“We have called for the tender. Out of 12 zones, the pipes have to cross through the PWD roads. The department was not giving the instant clearances for crossing the roads. There also we took lots of time and then forest clearances were also delayed and the cantonment board also took some time to get the clearance.”

Further, the minister revealed that the failure of the department to get the clearance from the Hima Mawphlang for construction of the pumping (station) at a place very close to the Umiew River also led to the further delay in completion of the GSWSS-III.

He however informed that the department is expecting that the Hima Mawphlang will issue clearance by next week.

“If we get the clearance, we are hoping to complete the GSWSS-III by December, this year, “ Marak said while adding that “The clearance is required for construction of the pumping (station) for pumping the water from the river Umiew to the reservoir and then to the treatment plant.”

Regarding the issue with the laying of pipelines, the minister said that the PHE department is not allowed to work during day time due to the traffic congestion in Shillong city.

“If PHE department is allowed to work during the day time, the entire traffic will be halted. Therefore, the department once after getting permission also, we were allowed to work during the night only. Therefore, these are the reasons why we took so long,” he added.

Read: 126 candidates from Meghalaya receive appointment letter in Rozgar Mela in Shillong

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