SHILLONG, MAY 7: PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak has stated that the New Shillong Township Water Supply Scheme (Phase-1) cost has been revised to Rs 772.96 crore, a 43.55% increase from the original sanction of Rs 538.44 crore, citing dam relocation, power supply requirements and compensation demand as key factors.
In a note on the revision, the Minister said the scheme is designed to ensure potable water supply to New Shillong Township, Mawkhanu Knowledge City and 32 adjoining villages at 135 LPCD, with projected coverage up to 2057.
Detailing the reasons for the Rs 234.52 crore escalation, Marak said the originally proposed dam site at Nonghali Village had to be shifted upstream.
“The originally proposed dam site has been shifted further upstream after it was learned that a landfill is also proposed in the vicinity of the originally proposed dam at Nonghali Village. This shift has resulted in an increase in the span of the dam from 70 m to 165 m, and in the number of radial gates from one to three. Accordingly, the overall structural dimensions have been modified,” the Minister stated.
The shift also triggered additional work at the jackwell.
“The upstream shift of the dam has also resulted in the relocation of the jack well, where the local topography around the jack well periphery necessitates additional excavation, earthwork, soil stabilization, etc,” he said.
On new compensation claims, Marak noted, “Initially, there was no demand from the community/local Dorbar Shnongs for compensation for laying the raw water pumping pipelines across customary lands. However, at present, there is a demand for compensation for the same.”
He added that dedicated power supply was not part of the original DPR.
“This requirement was not captured in the original DPR, and the provision of independent power infrastructure has now become mandatory for system reliability and efficiency. However, the provision for this component will be reviewed again,” the Minister said.
The dam relocation also forced changes in pipeline alignment. “Approximately 1.5 km of the existing PWD road must be dismantled and excavated for pipeline laying due to a change in the alignment of the pumping main at Jaroit Village and Diengpasoh Village. This is unavoidable as a result of the change in the dam site,” he stated.
Marak said the changes “have substantially increased civil, Mechanical and Electrical components including land compensation costs rendering the originally sanctioned estimate inadequate.”
Justifying the revised estimate, the Minister said it was essential to “ensure environmental safety by avoiding proximity to landfill sites, achieve structural and hydraulic safety of the dam and jackwell, maintain community cooperation through fair compensation, guarantee dedicated and reliable power supply for critical infrastructure for uninterrupted water supply, and restore public assets affected during pipeline construction.”
By Our Reporter
