Water crisis in city grips many localities; review meeting soon

SHILLONG, April 22: Frustrated and angry faces, long queues of water buckets along with the squabbles have become routine in many of the localities in Shillong and adjoining areas as water supply has become erratic and scarce.
One such locality which is hit annually by water crisis among others is Laban, and this time around the shortage seems acute.
While some have to make do with a bucket of drinking water a day, few have to wait for their turn to come the next day. Water tanker usually does brisk business under such circumstances but they are these days not quick to find and the prices too are exorbitant.
“I am aware of the problem faced by Shillong. I am calling officials for a review meeting,” Minister in-charge PHE, Marcuise N Marak said on Saturday.
Stating that all efforts will be put in to ease the water woes of the people, he said, “My department and my officials will try to do whatever best can be done”.
The PHE minister stated that catchment areas are drying up due to the impact of global warming and it is eventually affecting the supply system.
After the review, Marak said, new strategies will be adopted to lessen the burden as much as possible. He, nonetheless, admitted that there is no immediate solution to the problem of water crisis.
To top it all, no water supply in the city for two or sometimes three days has been happening since March due to maintenance issues and breakdown of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS).
On March 29, 30 and 31, there was no water supply from the GSWSS to Shillong city as pumping operation was affected due to disruption in power supply.
In April 12, the sudden breakdown of the gravity main of the GSWSS disrupted water supply for two days.
Consequently, the PHE minister had informed that the GSWSS Phase III is being hit by several hurdles.
The department had set a target of December 2022 for commissioning the GSWSS Phase III. The foundation stone was laid by former President Pratibha Patil at Mawphlang on October 22, 2008.