Jowai water project
Our Bureau
JOWAI/SHILLONG: The Shillong Bench of Gauhati High Court has directed the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to complete the Jowai Water Supply Scheme (JWSS) within a period of six months.
Responding to a petition filed by some prominent citizens of Jowai — Sajeki Passah, HH Mohrmen, CH Passah and DR Michael Buam, Justice T Vaiphei, in his directive issued on October 21, observed that it is a matter of concern to find the project which was inaugurated in 2003 is yet to see the light of the day.
The project, which is estimated at a total cost of Rs 1541.31 lakh, was scheduled to be completed within a period of five years from the date of commencement.
“The fact remains that the work could not be completed after a lapse of eight years. This state of affair can not be allowed to continue,” Justice Vaiphei said.
Sanctioned under non-lapsable central pool of resources (NLCPR) by the Ministry of Urban Development in April, 2003, the work for the project was started in June 2007.
Jowai town has been facing acute shortage of water due to increase in size of population.
The much-awaited Centrally sponsored river pumping water supply scheme for Jowai town from river Umngot has been delayed since 2007 though the project was sanctioned under the NLCPR by the Centre in 2002
