SHILLONG, March 21: The state Public Health Engineering (PHE) department has revised its target to complete the much-delayed Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) Phase III to December 2021.
Official sources, on Sunday, informed that the revised date for completion of the project is December, 2021.
On the delays for completing the project, the sources informed that one of the reasons is the inadequate availability of fund, while adding that the delay in release of instalments also affected the implementation schedule of the Phase III.
It was also informed that what added to the delay was the stoppage of work by the Public Works department.
Asked about the departmental problem, they informed that there was some delay initially in inviting the tender for the project, the estimated cost of which, according to the sources, was Rs 259.06 crore but the original estimate cost was Rs 193.49 crore.
The distribution network, covering seven urban centres, are divided into 12 zones and work in these zones could be taken up only after March 2012, the sources informed.
“From 2014-2015 onwards works on laying distribution network except area of Nongmengsong and Pynthorumkhrah, could not be continued due to the objection from the PWD. However, the PWD has issued a NO Objection Certificate for taking up the remaining portion of the distribution work in the 10 zones on December 9, 2019,” the official sources said.
It is worth mentioning here that the GSWSS Phase III was initiated in 2008.
Earlier during the budget session of the Assembly, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had informed that the state government is keen to complete the GSWSS phase-III.
Supplementing the reply given by one of the ministers concerned on the issue, the chief minister said the government is also looking at all sources of funding and is even exploring AMRUT.
He had further informed that phase III of the GSWSS was accorded Rs 12.5 crore out of Rs 100 crore received from the Centre as the first instalment under the special assistance for capital expenditure for projects nearing completion.
