SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Prof RC Laloo, extending the deadline for completion of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) Phase III, said that the project is now scheduled to be completed within March 2015.
“We have to re-schedule the deadline since there are numerous factors which has led to the delay in completing of the project,” Prof Laloo told the Assembly on Monday, assuring that the department will take all possible measures to see that the projects is completed within new deadline. Replying to a question by Mawlai legislator Embhahlang Syiemlieh inquiring the reasons for delay in completing the project, Laloo said that the reasons included avoidance in taking up of the work during the Assembly election in 2013 and sudden demise of the contractor who was assigned the work. “The process of re-allotment of the work is under process,” Deputy Chief Minister said.
He said so far, 75 percent of the major work of the project has been completed.
“We would try to complete the remaining 25 percent at the earliest,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister said that the department is trying to augment water supply and also adopt measures to reduce wastage of water under the Phase III.
Beside the areas already covered under Phase I and Phase II of the scheme, Prof Laloo said that the Government has also included other new areas like Pynthorumkhrah to be covered under Phase III. Earlier, Nongthymmai legislator Jemino Mawthoh, concerned over the acute shortage of water the people of his constituency are facing, had said that he is hopeful that completion Phases III would alleviate such problems. The Nongthymmai legislator further questioned whether the decision of the BJP Government to wind up the JNNURM scheme will have any impact on the GSWSS Phase III which is being funded under the scheme.
