By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a ray of hope for the water-starved residents of Jowai and adjoining villages, the much-delayed river pumping water supply scheme for the area is expected to be commissioned by March 2013.
An official of the PHE department recently informed that the project is in its final stages and 90 per cent of the work has already been completed.
“The department is currently carrying out the distribution of pipelines,” the official said.
Tagged as the most-awaited Centrally-sponsored scheme, the project was inaugurated in 2003 and subsequently, the PHE started work in June 2007.
Sanctioned under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources by the Union Ministry of Urban Development, the scheme aimed at meeting the rising demand for water in Jowai and surrounding villages including Mihmyntdu and Ialong.
The project, undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 1541.31 lakh, envisages to pump water from the Umngot river and supply it to the concerned areas.
It may be mentioned that concerned over the continued delay, some prominent citizens of Jowai had also filed a writ petition in October 2011 against the PHE with the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court following which Justice T Vaiphei directed the department to complete the project within a period of six months.
