WILLIAMNAGAR, Sep 1: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Union Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore on Thursday laid the foundation for the “Williamnagar Urban Water Supply Project Phase-I” at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills.
PHE Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and MLAs Marcuise Marak, Jim Sangma and Abdus Saleh were also present.
The Rs 121 crore project was sanctioned by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under AMRUT 2.0 and in the 90:10 funding pattern. It will cater to the town’s demand of water up to the year 2050.
Under Phase-I, the proposals include the construction of intake, laying of 500mm diameter MS Gravity Main, construction of Treatment Plant, laying of MS Feeder Mains, construction of 8 out of 14 Elevated Service Reservoirs (ESRs) and laying of HDPE distribution pipes to 4 wards, covering 7,229 households.
The other components of the project will be implemented under Phase-II. They include the construction of remaining 6 ESRs, laying of new distribution system to remaining wards, construction of approach roads, drawal of power line, construction of staff quarters in WTP & Control area, improvement of existing water supply scheme and installation of monitoring system.
The present population of Williamnagar urban area, which has 48 localities and office colonies, is 56,412 with 7,992 households, according 2011 census.
The source of water identified is named “Chibe” Stream. The dry weather discharge of this source was found adequate to meet the ultimate demand of the scheme – 8.33 lakh litres per day. The capacity of the Treatment Plant is 15 million litres per day.
CM Sangma expressed his gratitude to the Union minister for laying the foundation on the 75th birth anniversary of the late PA Sangma.
“We remember him as a person who committed himself to working for the progress of the state and the country,” the CM said.
He thanked the ministry for extending all support for sanctioning the project in the interest of the state, particularly for the people of Williamnagar town.
Sangma also lauded the efforts of the PHE department, the PHE minister and the local MLA for taking the initiative to push for the project.
He informed the gathering of the different water supply projects being undertaken in the state. He said the projects amount to Rs 2,000 crore.
He also said that under Jal Jeevan Mission, proposals worth Rs 3,000 crore are under advanced stage of consideration by the Centre. He said a project worth Rs 25 crore for improving internal road projects in Williamnagar is underway.
“Government has taken the initiative for change and Meghalaya has made rapid strides in many of the developmental indexes in the past four and half years,” he asserted.
The Union minister said the Williamnagar Water Supply Project will ensure water to every household in the town.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working to take every state forward through different flagship programmes. He lauded Sangma for his endeavour to push growth and development in the state.
