By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Stiff opposition from localities has turned out to be the biggest hurdle for the PHE department, currently involved in the laying of distribution pipes under the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GWSS).
“We are unable to lay the pipes since many of the localities are against it. The residents are not in favour that the existing Galvanized Iron (GI) pipes be replaced by Ductile Iron (DI) pipes for water distribution,” a senior government official said here on Thursday.
He added that convincing the local Dorbar Shnong to allow the laying of the pipes has been a difficult task for the department.
“The dialogue of the department with certain Dorbar Shnongs has yielded positive results. We will continue our dialogues with some of the Dorbar Shnongs to convince that this new initiative is to improve the water distribution in the Greater Shillong area,” the senior government official said. Besides this, the official stated that the project was set for further delay since the working season in the State happens to be very short.
“The rescheduled deadline to complete the project is in the first quarter of 2014. We still have six to seven months to complete the work within the rescheduled deadline,” a senior government official said.
Earlier, the project was set for completion by September but was delayed due to the recently held Assembly elections in the State. The official, however, made it clear that the delay would not lead to cost escalation.
On the status of the project, the official said that at present, the distribution pipes are being laid across the city. “Stage III of the GSWSS will provide up to 135 litres of water per head per day for a population of 5.12 lakh,” the official said, adding that the present Stage I and II of the scheme generates only 85 litres of water per head per day.
