Nongstoin water supply project gets underway

NONGSTOIN: The much awaited Nongstoin Urban Water Supply Scheme (NUWSS) which is the dream of thousands of residents of Nongstoin is now heading towards becoming a reality with construction work in progress.
A team of journalists visited the project site on Wednesday and found that M/s. Tantia Constructions Ltd, Kolkata, the implementing firm, has already begun the project work and is making steady progress.
Construction work began six months back and the work has been progressing according to the book.
The firm has been constructing a blacktopped road to connect the PWD road to Nongjyllieh village and has also gifted a football ground for the local youth.
Medral Kharbani, headmen of Nongjyllieh village was all praise for the construction firm saying that the road, even though not complete, is of very good quality and would be of great benefit for the village.
The headman also praised the Project Director, Nick Hartnett, for enrolling local youths to work for the company in return for which the villagers have agreed to donate a plot of land to the PHED.
The visiting journalists found that a huge 35 km long pipeline connecting the water treatment plant to seven villages has been laid down and a 12 metre deep intake well to store water was nearing completion.
Speaking on the progress of the construction work, the Project Director, Nick Hartnett said 35 % of the work has been completed. He informed that the project was allotted in 2013 but the work could not be taken up due to the financial crisis of the State government. The project only began last year, he stated.
On the challenges, Hartnett said the biggest problem was that the company’s plans and drawings were not being approved by the Chief Engineer of the PHED for the past two months.
“I assure you that if the concerned department from Shillong speeds up the paper work the NUWSS will quench the thirst of thousands of villagers under Nongstoin within 18 months,” Hartnett said.
The Project Director further mentioned that the project being set up at a cost of Rs 28,91,45,455 will
include survey, engineering, design and all construction aspects of the Nongstoin Urban Water Supply Scheme.