By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Chief Engineer of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, SK Sunn on Thursday earned vast criticisms from the various social organizations based in West Khasi Hills due to his failure in implementing the much-awaited Nongstoin Urban Water Supply Scheme (NUWSS).
“The project which was supposed to be completed within a contemplating timeframe which is 3 years is now delayed due to various excuses given by the CE of PHE from time to time which has affected the people at large”, chairman of the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong (SKNS) SH Marwein told reporters here.
The SKNS along with the four NGOs- KSU, FKJGP, WKHSU and the WYF on Thursday met the chief secretary WMS Pariat to apprise him of the delay in the implementation of this 133.94 crore project which was already sanctioned since March 30, 2011.
Projecting their lack of trust on PHE CE SK Sunn, the village elders of Nongstoin said “He is no less than a politician making thousands of promises but failed to fulfill even one” while observing that the project slowed down just after Sunn took over as the CE from former PHE chief H Prasad.
The SKNS chairman also said that a memorandum was proposed by the residents to chief secretary during his visit to Nongstoin in the year 2010 apprising him of the lack of water supply in the area and in this regard, an amount for implementation of this scheme was sanctioned during the tenure of the then CE H Prasad.
“During Prasad’s time, things started in full swing and a committee was also formed comprising government officials and village headmen but sadly, the project remained stagnant when Sunn took over as the new CE in the early months of this year”, Marwein said adding that excuses after excuses popped up, first the least response to the tender called by the department then funds constraints.
Meanwhile, the delegations of the various NGOs have also raised a questioned over the sudden deduction of the funds from Rs 18 crores to Rs 16 crores, allotted to implement the first package of the scheme.
“Till date, we have not received any concrete reply from the department regarding this deduction”, Marwein said.
On the hand, the village elders have also stated that during their meeting with the chief secretary, it was assured that the matter would be looked into within two weeks.
“He (Pariat) assured to direct the concern department to ensure speedy allotment of the work”, Marwein added.