State may seek Rs 100-cr loan for unfinished GSWSS

SHILLONG: The cash-strapped state government is contemplating taking a loan of around Rs 100 crore to complete the much delayed Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS).
Talking to media persons, PHE Minister Samling Malngiang said the department does not have money for the project and even the cost of the project has escalated due to the delay.
“We will have to take the loan for completion of the project,” he said while informing that the physical progress of the project is 80 percent and he has targeted to complete the project within one and half years.
He also said both the PHE and the PWD departments had meetings in the past to sort out the confusion over laying pipelines in the city for the project.
The Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme or GSWSS was initiated to tackle the problem of water crisis and Phase I was sanctioned in 1979 to cater to four urban centres — Shillong Municipal Board Area, Shillong Cantonment Board, Mawlai and Nongthymmai — in Shillong town.
Phases I and II generate 51.30 million liters per day (MLD) – 34.05 MLD under Phase I and 17.25 MLD under Phase II. Phase I envisages pumping of water directly from the run-off the Umiew river and has a capacity to generate and supply 34.05 MLD.
Phase III will serve 20 years.
Reacting to a query, the minister said the state would knock on the Centre’s door for assistance to implement different water projects and schemes which were delayed owing to lack of funds.
Talking about the water project for New Shillong Township, Malngiang said more than Rs 300 crore was sanctioned under the Special Plan Assistance or SPA scheme and now since the SPA has stopped, he would have to approach the Centre to ensure that ongoing projects are not affected.
He brushed aside the fears about unsafe water being supplied in the city saying water is tested three times before being supplied. He added that he had drunk the water from the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme at the treatment plant and “everything was fine”.