SHILLONG, OCT 15: Water taps have run dry for nearly five months in Kher Jatap and Lum-u-Smon, prompting the Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) to pull up the PHE department over the failure of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme.
In a joint petition submitted by HYC Shella Area Unit and Jatap Unit to the SDO, PHE, Shella Sub-Division, the Council said residents have been left without drinking water since the last 4-5 months despite the villages being covered under JJM.
Expressing deep concern, the HYC said, “This prolonged water scarcity has created immense hardship for the villagers. Water is a basic necessity of life and people cannot be deprived of it.”
Questioning the implementation of the scheme, the Council said, “Even after having the JJM scheme to provide water, people are forced to face such a situation for months. It clearly reflects lapses in execution and in ensuring regular water supply through the scheme.”
The organisation demanded immediate intervention.
“We have urged the SDO to act immediately, inspect the sites at Kher Jatap and Lum-u-Smon, identify the causes of the disruption and rectify the faults,” the HYC said.
It further sought an interim arrangement, stating, “We have asked that water supply be restored without further delay and if repair work takes time, alternative arrangements should be made to supply water till the problem is fully solved.”
The Council, through its Vice President of Shella Area Unit B. Natep and President of Jatap Unit P. Shongwan, also asked the department to treat the matter as urgent and to “apprise the public of the reasons behind the breakdown and the steps taken to restore supply.”
“We hope necessary action will be taken without any more delay so that the people of Kher Jatap and Lum-u-Smon get back their daily life-support water supply,” the HYC added.
By Our Reporter
