SHILLONG, MAR 23: Meghalaya deputy chief minister in-charge PHE RC Laloo on Wednesday informed that the department has proposed a total of 178 water supply schemes in at least nine districts of the state.
Replying in the assembly, Laloo said, “Under the rural programme, 178 schemes have been proposed under the funding pattern of 90:10 for covering as many as 458 habitations spread over 9 districts and 33 blocks.”
“The committee has cleared the proposals and we are waiting for giving them administrative approvals,” he said.
He informed that the department had submitted a proposal for phase-IV under GSWSS to the Ministry of Urban Development (MUD) besides augmentation of the phase-I&II for existing 4 urban centres and phase-III for 3 urban centres.
According to him, the water supply scheme in West Khasi hills is in progress and the department has also proposed new water supply scheme for Ri Bhoi district.
“Steps have been initiated by the department to address the water scarcity issue,” Laloo informed.
Earlier, UDP legislator Embhahlang Syiemlieh while raising his supplementary had expressed concern over the problem of acute shortage supply of drinking water faced by the people.
Echoing similar concern, HSPDP chief Ardent M Basaiawmoit wanted to know the steps taken by the department to check on the rampant exploitation of underground water.
He has also suggested to the department to take the NOC from the village dorbar into consideration before going ahead in granting permission for drilling of underground water.
Agreeing to this, UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh informed that an FIR was lodged against him after he intervened when there was a stiff opposition by the locality under his constituency against drilling of underground water on individual property.
He was also of the opinion that the local dorbar needs to be consulted before any drilling activity is to be taken up.
Meanwhile in his reply, Laloo said that coordination is taking place between the PHE department, Water Resources department and the Deputy Commissioner’s office in as far as granting permission for drilling is concerned.
“Only after clearance is obtained from the three agencies, permission will be granted,” he said.
On the need to take the village authority into consideration, Laloo said that the suggestion has been taken note by the department.-By Our Reporter
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