SHILLONG, Sep 16: PHE Minister, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, on Thursday admitted to the unsatisfactory progress of work on Greater Ampati Water Supply Scheme (GAWSS) after he was pulled up by Congress MLA from Ampati, Miani D Shira, during the Autumn session of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
A discontented Shira, during the Question Hour, not only flagged the delay in completing the work on the project but also questioned if the work on GAWSS has come to a standstill.
In his reply, the PHE Minister informed that about 70 per cent work has been completed in the project while Rs 87 crore has been coughed up for it.
Admitting that the progress of work on the project is unsatisfactory, the PHE Minister allayed Shira’s apprehensions and said that the work on the project has not stopped.
Tongkhar revealed before the House that the work on the GAWSS was sanctioned in 2012-2013, awarded to contractor in 2017, and the proposal to revise the estimates was submitted during 2018-2019. “The contractor has not been able to speed up the implementation of the project due to want of funds since he is waiting for the revised estimates,” he said.
Maina, during the Question Hour, also asked when will the state government approve the revised estimates and complete the project.
To this, the PHE Minister informed that the revised estimates for this project are under active consideration of the state government. “Despite financial constraints, the present government has tried its best to complete all ongoing projects which were pending for many years. I hope we will be able to complete (the project) once the revised estimates are sanctioned,” Tongkhar said.
The PHE Minister also pinned the ‘delay’ blame on the dissent by Ganol River Management Association (GRMA). “This had compelled the government to change the site and shift to the downstream of the river,” Tongkhar said.
