TURA: The ruling NPP led alliance in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council has, on Wednesday, stated in the floor of the house that the responsibility of constructing the new water tank at Hawakhana locality of Tura falls with the state government’s Public Health Engineering department.
Opposition MDC from Tura, Rupert M Sangma had during question hour of the GHADC budget session questioned the delay in the construction of the new reservoir which has resulted in acute water shortage for many parts of the town.
However, Executive Member in charge of Water Works in the GHADC, Dhormonath Ch Sangma, while replying to the motion, stated that the role of the GHADC was limited to the dismantling of the old and leaking reservoir.
“The role of the Water Works department was to dismantle the tank. We have completed the process and handed over the work for construction of the new tank to PHE department,” informed the EM before the house.
The issue of water shortage coupled with the dismantling of the old tank had led to a blame game between the GHADC and the PHE as accusations and counter accusations were levied over who was responsible for the mess.
This budget session witnessed the shortest question hour with only two questions being asked by the opposition benches.
Besides the query on the water tank construction, Tura MDC Rupert M Sangma had also asked about the system to check trading by non-tribals in the Garo Hills.
Replying to the query on the number of checks for TNT licences, Taxation EM Rightious N Sangma informed the house that enforcement inspectors of the department conduct monthly checks on traders for TNT licenses. He added that those who do not possess the TNT license from the GHADC are barred from trading.