By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 23: The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) projects in Meghalaya have hit a major bottleneck, with payments of over Rs 700 crore yet to be paid to contractors.
Public Health Engineering Minister Marcuise N Marak on Tuesday said the state government is not at fault. He attributed the delay to procedural hurdles at the Centre’s end.
According to him, the original target for the JJM was March 31, 2024, but subsequent central government decisions are still pending. He said the deadline for the mission has been extended to 2028.
The release of funds is contingent on the completion of audits conducted under the Jal Shakti Ministry. Once these audits are cleared, the money earmarked will reach the state, allowing payments to resume.
The minister acknowledged that the delay has disrupted the work of several projects. While some contractors are carrying out the works despite financial constraints, others have halted construction altogether.
Expressing empathy, Marak assured the contractors that steps are underway to expedite the release of funds to them.
The Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS-III) is progressing steadily and expected to be fully commissioned by March next year, Marak said. The physical progress is approximately 70%, he added.
The minister explained that the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme had faced delays primarily due to issues relating to land acquisition. He said these obstacles have now been resolved, paving the way for construction to resume at full capacity. He indicated that work is expected to gain momentum with the onset of the working season. He emphasised that all preparatory and logistical hurdles have been addressed, allowing contractors to proceed without hindrance.
Further, he said the timely completion of the project is crucial for ensuring uninterrupted water supply to Greater Shillong, underscoring the government’s focus on meeting urban water demands. He reassured that all efforts are being made to adhere to the revised timeline and bring the project to fruition by March next year.
