Williamnagar, Aug 18: Meghalaya boasts of over 80% completion in the supply of water through the much-vaunted Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) according to the latest dashboards available.
This should have called for a celebration of epic proportions as the state grapples with safe drinking water despite an ample supply of rain every year.
Rongalgre and Dinaminggre washed away the sheen that was being projected by the state. This comes when the Centre has been lavish in its praise for Meghalaya, and the state received several awards for its ‘exceptional’ work on the project.
A ground report of two villages in East Garo Hills reveals a true picture of the JJM. In one village, the project has been shown as completed while the other is on the verge of completion.
Rongalgre: Here, according to the JJM dashboard, the project started in 2021 and was completed in 2022. With a population of 430 in three clusters of 68 households, it shows that all the beneficiaries are provided with a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC).
The total cost of the project is over Rs 86 lakhs with the total withdrawal showing Rs 86.78 lakhs already being provided to the contractor.
However, once in the village, you are hit by the reality of what FHTCs mean and how the village has never seen a drop of water coming through the JJM pipes.
A resident of the village, Vinod Marak pointed out that the project was handed over by the contractor to two persons, Pollen Sangma and Jeljem Sangma to ensure the work was completed on time. What is odd is the fact that both Pollen and Weljem are the VSWC chairman and secretary, respectively, and hence whether they completed the project or not could provide clearance for the money to be withdrawn.
“The headman mentioned the project shows one Gneth Sangma as the headman of Rongalgre, however, we have no idea who he is. This is wrong in all senses and there seems to be haste in providing money to the contractors,” Vinod Marak said. He added that their despair has been communicated to PHE Minister Marcuise Marak but nothing has been done.
“We are without any water, and in most households, the pipes have not been laid. Further, there are few platforms or taps. In most places, the pipes are not even connected to the main pipeline so there is no question of receiving any water through. As to how the project has been passed is beyond our understanding,” said village president, Halwen Marak.
The role of the third-party inspection team as well as that of the PHE has come in for sharp scrutiny in the case as it is visible that they have passed an incomplete project as completed as well as released money without doing their ground work.
“We have informed them (PHE) on multiple occasions but every time they just promise to come and sort out the matter but never do. Even during the construction, there was no one to check on what was taking place. None of us have signed on the completion report but I don’t think that mattered anyway as the contract was being done by the chairman and secretary,” felt Halwen.
When contacted, the PHE department remained unavailable for comment.
Dinaminggre: The story of Dinaminggre is no different from Rongalgre except that the project is still under progress where 152 households under the two villages (of 168 households) have been fitted with FHTCs and are receiving tap water. The total population to be covered under the scheme is 764. The project falls under the aegis of Dinaminggre WSS and comes for Rs 253.90 lakh. While the project is yet to be completed, Rs 250.3 lakh has already been sanctioned to the contractor.A visit to the village showed a very stark picture of what is being projected by the JJM dashboard which shows almost 90% of the households receiving water. Dinaminggre is an augmentation project under JJM where the old workable PHE pipelines laid through the village were taken out and used to connect to the project’s specifications.
In the process, the village with a perfectly working water system, has been completely left high and dry as the new project is yet to provide water while the old one has been completely dismantled.
“A reservoir has been set up in the higher reaches of the villages but there is no water in the tank. All you can find there is mosquito eggs. The villagers are currently using other sources to manage water after the project has failed to provide them with what was promised. The PHE should have inquired into what happened before sanctioning the sum to the contractor. In this case, almost the entire sum has been cleared,” Social Activist Nilbath said.
He further questioned the role of the PHE and the third-party team that approved payment for the project despite what he said indicated that something was wrong.
“The villagers have told us that they have not seen a drop of water in their taps under JJM so why the hurry in clearing bills. Was the PHE not supposed to verify the project was working and inspect things regularly? They never came and yet the bills were passed. Households are without water and yet the state projects over 80% completion. This is just a whole new level of corruption,” felt Nilbath.
The residents of Rongalgre and Dinaminggre dream of a working water connection.
“All we want is water to come to our houses and we appeal to the department and the PHE minister to look into the hardship. If our projects are completed then where is the water? These things have to be corrected,” felt the villagers from both sides.
