From Our Correspondent
Nongstoin: The Nongstoin Urban Water Supply Scheme (NUWSS) Committee comprising of the KSU (West Khasi Hills), FKJGP (West Khasi Hills), WKHSU, the Western People’s Movement and the Western Youth Federation, has informed that it would meet the Chief Engineer PHE departent SK Sunn for the last time regarding the alleged anomalies in the water supply project after which it would take action on the matter.
In a public meeting held at Nongstoin market on Sunday, Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong chairman H Marwein alleged that the fund allotted for the scheme was being diverted elsewhere. “The total amount, a whopping Rs 133. 94 crore has attracted the greedy motives of the engineers of the department (PHE ),” he added.
It may be mentioned that the Committee had asked the Chief Engineer to give details of the number of Packages in the scheme along with the amount allotted to each of them. It had also asked Sunn to give details as to when the other packages would be released.
The Committee had earlier given a July 10 deadline to the PHE to clarify on the queries.
Our reporter adds from Shillong
Meanwhile, the PHE department has extended the date for submission of biddings for the NUWSS to July 17. A PHE official on Sunday said that the date was extended as some prospective bidders from outside the state had requested for the extension.
Reacting to a query on the ongoing allegations, the official said that to begin with, the department has to be assured about the funds required for the implementation of the project.
“We can’t just go and implement the project since the State plan is very limited,” the official said.
It may be mentioned that a total amount of Rs 133.94 crore has been sanctioned for the project.
The NGOs had alleged that only Rs 16 crore out of the total amount has been released as of now. This amount, as per the tender floated, exhibited work towards survey, engineering, design, road to pumping station, treatment of water gravity etc.
However, the official reiterated that the amount is only for Package I of the entire project. “The budget may further go up or down as we progress,” the official said. The Scheme is funded under the State Urban Water Supply Programme and is intended to provide water supply to 28 localities of Nongstoin. The source of the scheme is River Kynshi which is considered a dependable water body with its perennial flow.