SHILLONG, July 22: The Estimate Committee of the Meghalaya Assembly has directed the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to identify a new site for the stalled Pohkseh Water Supply Scheme after its pumping system collapsed.
The Committee, which is headed by Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme at Mawpdang and the 2nd IT Park Building.
The Committee conducted an inspection of the three major infrastructure projects on Wednesday along with members Miani D Shira, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Remington G Momin. Officials from the Assembly Secretariat, the PHE Department and the Information Technology Department accompanied the team.
Reviewing the Pohkseh Water Supply Scheme, Syiem said the pumping system at the existing site had collapsed a few years ago, bringing the project to a halt. He described the incident as unfortunate and said the Committee had instructed the department to identify a new location so that the scheme could be revived.
He expressed hope that the PHE Department would prepare the revised project estimates at the earliest and thanked the Dorbar Shnong of Pohkseh for handing over land for the project. Once the new site is finalised, work can begin to provide safe drinking water to households in the locality, he said.
At the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme in Mawpdang, the Committee reviewed the treatment plant and other infrastructure already installed. Syiem said the project’s physical and financial progress was satisfactory and that the first phase, comprising the dam, the main gravity line and the treatment plant, was expected to be commissioned and completed by December 2027.
He said the second phase would involve laying the distribution network to ensure water supply to various localities across New Shillong. He expressed confidence that the project would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
During the inspection of the 2nd IT Park Building at the Shillong Technology Campus, the Committee noted satisfactory physical and financial progress despite implementation challenges.
Syiem said the IT Park would generate significant employment opportunities for the youth and contribute to the expansion of Meghalaya’s information technology sector.
The Committee reiterated its commitment to closely monitor key public infrastructure projects to ensure their timely completion and effective utilisation of public resources.
