SHILLONG:
The state government has sought financial aid of Rs 215 crore for the implementation of its New Shillong Water Supply Scheme (NSWSS).
“As per estimates, we will require around Rs 215 crore for implementation of the proposed water scheme for the New Shillong Township. Accordingly, we are trying to get the said amount sanctioned under the Centre’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme,” said minister in-charge Public Health Engineering (PHE) Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, on May 5.
Implementation of the water supply scheme is necessitated in view of the state government’s decision to shift its secretariat and other government offices to the New Shillong Township. Tongkhar also informed that the Umkhen will be one of the main sources for the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme.
The proposal to shift the administrative building of the government near Mawpdang Mawkhanu in East Khasi Hills, was approved by the state cabinet and subsequently, the foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in January 2021 as part of the 50th year of Statehood celebration.
The state government had already acquired 807.7 acres of land in the New Shillong Township. The objective was to have a long-term measure to ease the congestion in Shillong city.
Meanwhile, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) is one among the few important institutions which have already started functioning from the New Shillong Township and the PHE department is helping the healthcare institution with water supple.
“Our officers have prepared the detailed project report (DPR) and NEIGRIHMS has agreed that they will sanction the required amount,” he said.
The minister also added that some departments and institutes are managing the water supply by themselves. “They can also do it since they have got their own money, not necessarily that only PHE will provide water supply to them,” he said.
Under AMRUT, Tongkhar informed that Rs 119 crore have been sanctioned by the Centre for implementation of the Williamagar water supply scheme.