By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 3: Phase I of the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme has received administrative approval with a budget of Rs 538.44 crore under the State Plan, PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak informed the Assembly on Monday.
Responding to a query from VPP MLA Heavingstone Kharpran, which was tabled in the House, Marak stated that the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract has been awarded to BAC Infratech Private Limited, and work is already in progress.
So far, surveying, investigation, and design for various components of the project have been completed. Materials are being procured, approach roads are under construction, and soil testing for all structures has been finalised. Work has also commenced on the acquired land.
The project is divided into two phases. Phase I focuses on drawing water from the Wah-Umkhen River and includes the construction of a dam, two jack wells with pump houses and an approach bridge.
The raw water will be pumped at a capacity of 70 million litres per day (MLD) in the future, though Phase I will initially supply 33 MLD. The water will be transported via pipelines to a water treatment plant (WTP) near Bri-Heh village, Mawpdang, where it will be processed for distribution.
A key feature of the project is the integration of advanced technology. A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, along with Internet of Things (IoT) technology, will be installed to automate and monitor the water supply. This system will enable real-time tracking of water flow, leak detection, and pressure monitoring — all controlled from a central command room for faster issue resolution.
Marak emphasised that due to the technical complexity — particularly the installation of SCADA and IoT systems — it was not feasible to divide the work among multiple contractors. BAC Infratech Private Limited was selected based on its expertise and experience in handling such projects.
Looking ahead, Phase II of the project is awaiting approval. This phase will focus on constructing clear water pumping mains and gravity mains, building reservoirs and developing the distribution network.
Additionally, Phase II will introduce smart metering to measure water usage and smart billing systems that will integrate data into the central command room, ensuring accurate and transparent tracking of consumption.
The minister underscored the need for seamless integration of both phases to ensure an efficient water supply system for New Shillong Township. He cautioned that any gaps in planning or execution could disrupt the system and compromise the project’s goal of delivering a reliable and sustainable water supply.