TURA, Feb 24: South Garo Hills is poised to get its first large-scale drinking water supply project that will ultimately cover a population of over 63,000 people from 16 villages and district headquarters, Baghmara.
The foundation for the Greater Baghmara Water Supply Project was laid on Wednesday by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in Baghmara in the presence of PHE Minister Renikton Lyngdoh and legislators Thomas Sangma of North Tura, Samuel Sangma of Baghmara and Rakkam A Sangma of Rongara-Siju, among other dignitaries.
The project is jointly funded by central and state share under DoNER Ministry through NESIDS and the total estimated cost is Rs 63.5 crore.
Exuberant over launch of this mega project, the chief minister said, “This is an ambitious project of our government, and we are thrilled to lay the foundation of the project, which will go a long way in providing potable drinking water to the citizens of Baghmara town and 16 en-route villages. This is the MDA fulfilling its promise to the people of South Garo Hills”.
He recalled that there has been a sense of neglect for such districts like South Garo Hills for many years and the aim of the MDA government will be to ensure that it is made up for all the development work that these districts have been deprived of for many years.
Pointing out the richness of the district in terms of forest and mineral wealth, Conrad said, “South Garo Hills contributes one of the highest revenues to our state because of its forest cover, mines and minerals; yet it is one of the most-neglected districts and that is why through the span of my visits to the districts, I made it a point to change its course by sanctioning various projects to uplift the district”.
Asserting his commitment to the district, Conrad said, “Laying of the foundation stone is not the end and I am personally committed to the completion of what we start. We will see the projects through by monitoring them on a regular basis”.
With the source for the scheme being the Rongdong stream, the scheme intends to cover the present population of 25,676 and an ultimate population of 63,335. The number of households proposed to be covered by the project is 2,340.
Under the project, the scope of work includes the construction of RCC weir, Supply, and Laying of 200mm dia MS pipe Gravity Main (34.50Km), construction of a Conventional Type Treatment Plant and the construction of the Main Clear Water Reservoir.
5th Baghmara challenge
On the sidelines of the foundation stone-laying ceremony, the chief minister also kicked off the yearlong celebration of 50 years of Meghalaya’s statehood by inaugurating the 5th Baghmara Challenge, an Inter-Club Basketball Tournament at the Baghmara Sports Complex, and also attended the Audiovisual Exhibition on the ‘Road to 50’ curated by The Northeast India AV Archive, which is part of the celebration.