Alternative source of water for Shillong not feasible: CM
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 17: In what may be described as a welcome announcement, PHE Minister Marcuise N. Marak on Wednesday promised uninterrupted supply in water-starved Shillong from Thursday.
A day after the High Court of Meghalaya registered a PIL over the severe water shortage in the city, the PHE Minister pointed fingers at the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for damaging a major water pipeline during road construction works, leading to the disruption.
Marak, who inspected the affected site along with department officials, confirmed that the leakage occurred deep within the newly-constructed NHIDCL road in the 101 Area. This caused massive water scarcity across Shillong for over a week.
“The leakage was well inside the road, making it difficult to excavate and reach the damaged pipe. We had no choice but to lay a 300-metre alternative new line, which explains the delay,” Marak said. He added that the old pipeline could not be repaired due to the overlying road construction.
The minister noted that the incident coincided with ongoing PHE efforts to realign pipes affected by the same road project. Fortunately, the department had obtained necessary permissions and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for laying pipes alongside the road.
Marak revealed that PHE officers had worked tirelessly without proper rest over the past week to complete repairs. He assured residents that water supply has now been fully restored and the department will release the full volume starting Thursday.
Accusing NHIDCL of frequently causing disruptions in various sections, Marak said the realignment work in this particular portion was incomplete when NHIDCL proceeded with road laying. He acknowledged a communication gap and urged NHIDCL to adopt stronger coordination measures, including informing the PHE department before commencing work.
The minister added that the government would push for an official inquiry and appropriate action against any violations.
Backup source not feasible: CM
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, addressing concerns over the crisis, ruled out the possibility of creating a single alternative or backup water source for the entire city, citing the enormous scale and financial burden that would run into thousands of crores of rupees.
Speaking during an interaction with traditional heads and community leaders at Mawlai Mawroh under the CM Connect initiative, Sangma clarified that while a city-wide backup is impractical, the government has focused on developing localised water sources in different neighbourhoods over the past five years to handle emergencies.
He highlighted that Phase III of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS), dormant for nearly 17 years, is now largely operational, with water reaching intended reservoirs. Repair works are also progressing at the damaged Mawphlang Dam.
On long-term conservation, the Chief Minister said advanced technologies—including radar, drone surveys, and satellite imaging—have been used to study water flow in Upper Shillong and surrounding forests. Based on these studies, small dams and reservoirs have been built to slow runoff and enhance storage, with similar projects underway in the Umiam river basin and Mawphlang areas.
Sangma reiterated that no single backup exists for the GSWSS but emphasised ongoing efforts to strengthen the system through localised alternatives, infrastructure upgrades, and conservation.
He also encouraged community-driven projects utilising local springs and streams, typically costing Rs 30–50 lakh, where water is stored in tanks for emergency use. Apologising for the public inconvenience, the Chief Minister said he had personally monitored the situation over the past four to five days. He explained that pipelines supplying large parts of Shillong were damaged during NHIDCL road works between Umshyrpi and 7th Mile, leading to significant leakage in the 101 Area.
The matter was immediately raised with NHIDCL, but the damage required complete pipeline replacement—a massive operation involving round-the-clock work. “Restoration is nearing completion, and full supply will resume shortly,” Sangma assured.
