Shillong, May 7: Meghalaya Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Marcuise N Marak on Thursday clarified the reasons behind the ₹234.52 crore increase in the New Shillong Township Water Supply Scheme, which has revised the total project cost from ₹538.44 crore to ₹772.96 crore.
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| Meghalaya Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Marcuise N Marak. (File Photo) |
Addressing criticisms over the revised estimate, the Minister stated that the Phase-I scheme is aimed at ensuring potable water supply to the New Shillong Township, Mawkhanu Knowledge City, and 32 adjoining villages with projected population coverage up to 2057.
According to Marak, the primary reason for the cost escalation was the shifting of the proposed dam site further upstream after a landfill was proposed near the originally identified location at Nonghali village.
He explained that the relocation increased the dam span from 70 metres to 165 metres and raised the number of radial gates from one to three, resulting in major modifications to the structural design.
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The Minister further stated that the relocation of the dam also led to the shifting of the jack well, requiring additional excavation, earthwork, soil stabilisation and slope protection measures.
Marak said new compensation demands had also emerged from local Dorbar Shnongs for laying raw water pipelines across customary lands, although such demands were not part of the original proposal.
He added that a dedicated power supply system, which was not included in the original Detailed Project Report (DPR), has now become necessary to ensure uninterrupted and reliable water supply infrastructure.
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The Minister also pointed out that around 1.5 kilometres of existing PWD roads at Jaroit and Diengpasoh villages would need to be dismantled and restored due to changes in the alignment of the pumping main pipeline.
According to the PHE Department, the cumulative impact of these changes resulted in a 43.55 percent increase in the project estimate, affecting civil, mechanical, electrical and land compensation components.
Marak maintained that the revised estimate was essential to ensure environmental safety, structural and hydraulic stability of the dam and jack well, fair land compensation, reliable power supply and restoration of public infrastructure.
