By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The much anticipated Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) phase funded under the JNNURM is set for another delay.
Official sources on Monday informed that the PHE department, which is implementing the project, has sought another extension from the Government.
This would be the third time that the department has sought an extension to complete the project since its implementation several months ago.
“The PHE has now sought a fresh deadline to complete the project by September 2013,” official sources said.
Even though the original deadline is June 2012, the PHE had initially sought an extension to complete the project by September 2012.
“In April this year the PHE had sought another extension to complete the project by March 2013. With the department seeking repeated extensions the project is likely to face another delay,” official sources said.
Looking at the manner in which the project is implemented, official sources said that they would not be surprised to see the department seeking another extension after the September 2013 deadline ends.
Earlier, a senior government official said that the project is likely to be delayed since the progress of the work has been relatively slow due to various factors.
The official attributed the reason for the delay to late release of funds for the project by the Union Ministry of Urban Development.
It may be mentioned that recently the Union Ministry had released a total amount of Rs 55 crore as the second instalment.
On the present status of the project, a senior government official informed that only 10 % of the survey, engineering, design and laying of the distribution system comprising the 12 zones is completed so far.
He also informed insofar as the survey, engineering, design and construction of the two stages of the water pumping system, laying of clear water gravity main and construction of clear water pumping system including laying of main feeder pipes is concerned about 40 percent of the work is complete.
“The overall physical progress of the project is around 78.57 percent,” a senior government official said.
Under this project, the department is targeting to provide household connections to 44,000 households.
It may be mentioned that the third phase of the water supply project, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 193 crore, aims at augmenting the water supply to urban Shillong and its adjoining areas.