SHILLONG: The completion of the much awaited multi-crore Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme phase III is being delayed for one reason or the other.
The latest reason for the delay is construction of the proposed road from Umshyrpi to Dawki by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
According to PHE Minister Prestone Tynsong, since there will be realignment of road, which also involves digging of ground once the JICA project starts, the PHE Department wants to ensure that there is no problem with laying of water pipes.
“JICA should tell us about the re-alignment so that we can schedule our work,” Tynsong said.
The minister said while PHE officers had a meeting with JICA representatives, the department is waiting for the final alignment of the project.
JICA is a central government initiative to widen the 71.5-km road from Shillong to Dawki.
The project worth Rs 1,251 crore includes construction of a four-lane road from Umshyrpi to Mylliem and from there a two-lane road to Dawki-Tamabil. An additional bridge will be constructed over the Umshyrpi as part of the project.
Tynsong said earlier, the PHE Department had faced hurdles in laying down pipes when the Shillong-Nongstoin road project was carried out.
Several deadlines crossed
There was undue delay in the completion of Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme phase III.
The foundation stone for the project was laid by the then President Pratibha Patil on October 22, 2008.
Despite several deadlines for almost nine years, there was delay in completing the project that was scheduled for May 2011.
The next deadline set by the department was in September 2013, but it was extended to 2015.
Yet again, there was a new deadline in March 2016 followed by another one in March this year.
In the past, both CAG and the Assembly Committee had pulled up the PHE Department for the unusual delay in the completion of the project.
Loss of Rs 17.41 crore
The CAG report had cited that PHE was deprived of additional central assistance of Rs 17.41 crore, which is 10 per cent of the Centre’s share for the project, due to the failure of the Government to implement the reforms as per timelines under JNNURM.
Earlier this year, the department had received the last installment of over Rs 43 crore out of the project cost of Rs 193.50 crore with central share fixed at Rs 174.15 crore and the state share of Rs 19.35 crore in the 90:10 funding pattern.
As per the CAG report, earlier in December 2011, the project was inspected by an independent review and monitoring agency appointed by the Ministry of Urban Development and based on its appraisal report, the third installment of Rs 43.54 crore was released in January 2012 to the State Government.
Rs 131 crore utilised, yet work on
However, the CAG report said though the project was to be completed by May 2011, only 36 per cent of the work was completed till December 2013 even after utilising Rs 131.84 crore.
Later, the ministry had, in September 2014, declined to release the fourth installment of the central share (Rs 43.54 crore) since the extended deadline of March 31, 2014, was over. Even after the quarterly progress report, only 38 per cent of the work was completed till March 2015.
Subsequently, after a series of communication from the State Government, the Centre finally released the last installment.
