By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 23: North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum on Tuesday attributed the recent water crisis affecting several localities in Shillong to a lack of coordination among government departments.
Speaking to reporters, Nongrum said the bursting of the main pipeline of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) could have been avoided had there been proper coordination between the Public Works Department (PWD), the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
He pointed out that NHIDCL is responsible for monitoring the four-laning work of the Rilbong Point–Baniun Mylliem stretch of the Shillong–Dawki road, during which the GSWSS pipeline was damaged. “This crisis is something the public has been forced to suffer. It was purely due to the negligence of NHIDCL, which damaged the GSWSS pipeline and disrupted water supply across the city,” Nongrum said.
The MLA stressed that the government must have a clear policy ensuring coordination among departments, adding that the primary objective of all government agencies should be to provide efficient services to the public.
He urged the state government to ensure effective inter-departmental coordination, particularly while implementing major and important infrastructure projects, so that residents are not subjected to hardships like the recent water shortage.
Nongrum further observed that there is a visible lack of convergence among departments, with agencies functioning in isolation
“If the PWD, NHIDCL and PHE had coordinated, this pipeline burst would not have occurred and the people of Shillong would not have faced such a severe water crisis,” he said.
He also noted that Shillong is currently facing an acute water shortage, which became evident after the bursting of a PHE pipeline near the 101 Area. The incident, he said, caused immense hardship to residents who regularly pay their taxes.
On the issue, Nongrum said discussions and communications have already been held with the concerned departments and the minister responsible, urging immediate corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
