SHILLONG, Feb 10: PHE Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said the Ri-Bhoi deputy commissioner has submitted a report to the government on the alleged supply of substandard pipes by Jindal India Limited meant for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) across the state.
“The report has been submitted, and according to it, action has been already been taken,” he said, adding that the government may consider black-listing the firm if required.
Some pressure groups in Ri-Bhoi had demanded a magisterial inquiry into the implementation of the centrally-sponsored JJM in the district. They had alleged irregularities in the implementation of the scheme and accused the company of supplying truckloads of substandard pipes to Meghalaya.
Tongkhar also said the obstruction to the Phase III of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) has been removed with the Defence authorities issuing a no-objection certificate.
“There is no reason to delay the work now. We intend to complete the project within this year,” he said.
The GSWSS-III is expected to mitigate the water woes being faced by the residents of Shillong.
The project was approved by the Centre in October 2008 at a cost of Rs 193.5 crore and the target for its completion was May 2011. The objective of this project was to create infrastructure for the supply of an additional 24 million litres of water to the projected population of Shillong Urban Agglomeration from 2011 to 2041.