SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister and in-charge of Public Health Engineering (PHE) department Prof R C Laloo has said that there has been shortage of potable drinking water in the state capital and its outskirts due to leakages in the water distribution system.
“The state capital and the surrounding urban areas require 49.06 million litre of water per day. However, the different distribution sources have been able to provide only 43.03 million litre of water per day leading to the shortage,” Prof Laloo said in the State Assembly on Thursday while replying to a motion moved by UDP legislator Jemino Mawhtoh.
He said water from the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) phase I and II is being able to supply 31.44 million litre of water per day. The rest 11.59 million litre of water is being collected from other sources. He said much of the water supply from GSWSS in Mawphlang is getting wasted due to leakages in the distribution pipes.
Prof Laloo said the loss of catchment area remains an “area of concern”.
The Minister also informed the House that GSWSS phase III has been included in the list of incomplete projects under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Transformation and the Centre has assured funds for its completion.
“The State Government will go ahead with the construction work of the phase III as soon as the fourth installment of Rs 4353. 69 lakh is released by the Centre,” he said.
About the concerns being raised over the quality of water supplied from the GSWSS, the minister said that raw water, collected by the laboratory of the PHE department, is being tested at the Pasteur Institute every day.
The Minister later also expressed concern over the fact that only 2 out of 7 urban centres have a treatment plant and he added that he would send a note to the Urban Affairs Minister so that Shillong Municipal Board can built the treatment plants at 5 urban centres in the city.
Earlier, while participating in the discussion, Paul Lyngdoh (UDP) urged the state government to create water Conservation Board in the state for water management, distribution and supply.
While moving the motion, Jemino Mawthoh said that the Government has failed to address the issue of water despite having so many resources.
On the other hand, Mawlai MLA Embhah Syiemlieh said that even now people in Shillong have to boil the water and take other safety measures before feeling safe to consume the water supplied by government agencies.
