SHILLONG: Taking cognizance of the reports that the water supplied in Shillong city from Mawphlang is not fit for human consumption, the Public Accounts Committee of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Monday conducted an inspection of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme.
Member of the Committee, Paul Lyngdoh said that the inspection was also attended by MLA Ronnie V Lyngdoh, Hopeful Bamon, DHS (MI) and a micro-biologist from Pasteur Institute.
“We tested two samples of water during the inspection and it was found to be fine,” Lyngdoh said.
During the inspection, PAC also issued one month’s time to PHE to install few equipments required to be put up at the water supply
It was also found that the site laboratory was too small and PHE was directed to find another room to accommodate all the equipments.
The committee advised PHE officials to appoint an analyst or microbiologist at the earliest even as the committee felt that the department should examine the need to have treatment plans for all the water being supplied to Shillong.
He said that at the moment, only two out of 7 water resources have water treatment facility.
The committee also pointed out that there should be more coordination between Shillong Municipal Board.
Earlier, Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) Youth Wing took the initiative of taking the sample from the clear water storage of Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme located at 4½ Mile Upper Shillong to King Edward VII Memorial Pasture Institute and Medical Research Institute, Shillong, where the experts found the pH level of water to be 5.7 which meant that the water supplied was highly acidic and unfit for human consumption.
However, PHE department rubbished the report and even Chief Minister Mukul Sangma directed PHE minister R.C Laloo to look into the matter and take necessary action.
