STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG: Phase-3 of the 'Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme' (GSWSS) is limping due to multiple lapses, the formost being the delay caused by inter-departmental problems within the State. Phase-3 of the GSWSS was concieved in 2008 at an estimated amount Rs 193.40 crore but it has remained incomplete till date even as the revised amount of the estimates has now touched Rs 259.06 crore. According to official sources, the delay in release of fund installments severely affected the implementation schedule of the project. Interestingly, there has been an obvious inter-departmental problem that led to the delay of the project that could have reach Shillong and its congomorate. This is one of the reasons why certain areas in Shillong and its adjacent areas are left high and dry in the dry months. Ön the 'Inter Departmental Problems', the official records State, ''There were some delays initially in calling tenders for the project. However, tenders for various packages of the project were floated in October 2009 and the work order was issued in december 2009.
The Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) blames the State Public Works Department for the delay in issuing permission for execution of the work. The issue was apparently resolved in the high-level meeting convened by the Minister in charge of PWD and PHE on March 23, 2012.
But, another hurdle cropped up: The PHE Department could not carry on with the work due to stoppage of work from the PWD, which raised objections. The reasons cited by the PHE from 2014-2015 onwards relate to laying of distribution network except in the areas of Nongmynsong and Pynthorumkhrah '' which could not be continued due to objection by the PWD". The PHE Department added, ''However, the PWD has issued the NOC (No Objection Certficate) for taking up the remaining portion of distribution network in 10 zones in December 2019.