Shillong: Work on the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme reached the 90 percent mark this week. PHE Minister Marcuise N. Marak expects the project to start operations by March next year. The massive infrastructure upgrade aims to stabilize drinking water for Shillong's rapidly growing population.
The system draws raw water from the Umiew River near Mawphlang. It relies on a 321-metre pumping head to move water to the treatment plant. The project design originally targeted a population of 3.11 lakh in urban areas and 40,000 in rural zones, with a total capacity of 11.30 million gallons per day. Officials built the system in stages. Phase I wrapped up in 1986. Phase II saw the 2003 completion of a 130-metre-wide, 50-metre-high concrete dam that holds 9.145 million cubic metres of water.
Phase III focuses on fixing system leaks and replacing aging cast-iron pipes with durable ductile-iron piping. These improvements reach the Shillong Municipal Board, Mawlai, Nongthymmai, Pynthorumkhrah, Nongmynsong, and Madanryting. Government officials now look to organize a new authority to manage the supply.
Meghalaya is modeling a new Drinking Water and Sewerage Board after the Jal Board system. The state intends to manage urban supplies in Shillong and Tura under this new body. Marak noted that the government plans to pass the necessary legislation during the Budget Session next year. "Consultations with stakeholders are under way before the proposed legislation is introduced in the Assembly," Marak said.
The state also faces hurdles with the separate Jal Jeevan Mission. Meghalaya has connected 5.45 lakh rural households so far. This covers 65 percent of the total goal. Some Village Water and Sanitation Committees remain reluctant to take over completed schemes. The government will launch awareness campaigns to address these management gaps.
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