PHE waters down water supply schemes!

Households in West Guwahati LAC paying through the nose for potable water! Why’ve the schemes conked out? A one-size-fits-all response to the question is ‘shoddy works’ 

From our Correspondent

AZARA, March 2: The people of West Guwahati LAC have been bearing the brunt of the PHE Department watering down the capacity of its water supply schemes, numbering 18 in Azara Revenue Circle alone. The people of the LAC have to pay through the nose for potable water.

All such water supply schemes were set up spending crores of rupees, but many of them have conked out. The moot question is: why have they conked out? A one-size-fits-all response to the question is ‘shoddy works’. According to allegations, when funds are embezzled what contractors or officials concerned comprise is quality of works. One of the easiest ways to cut cost in such water supply schemes is not boring up to the desired depths. One of the visible outcomes of this practice is most of the schemes in the LAC and elsewhere in Guwahati going dry during the winter, when households need supply water the most.

Most of the 18 water supply schemes in Azara Revenue Circle have some chronic ailments. While some of the schemes run dry, some are still supplying water but not in adequate quantity. There are some other schemes that have failed to see light of the day despite spending crores of rupees, and many schemes have not been iugurated as yet.

Azara alone has two water supply schemes – one at Kahikuchi and the other at Shyambhumi. While Matia and Mirzapur have two schemes each, Borjhar, Kendukuchi, Garal, Kheliapara, Dharapur, Sokordou, Kachuniapara, Raibori, Kuhabori etc., areas have one scheme each. Most of these schemes are ailing ones, some way or the other. If one fails to supply water to households in adequate quantity, another does not supply water regularly. While some schemes have gone dry, some others have not been iugurated despite spending crores of rupees.

Take the case of Heerapara Lapatul Water Supply Scheme near Azara. The scheme was set up in 2004 spending Rs 75 lakh. The worst is that not a single drop of water could be pulled from the plant even today. Where and how were the funds dumped? Is not it a perfect case for an inquiry? Likewise, the water supply scheme at Mirzapur Bishuddha Khowapani Asomi has not been iugurated as yet despite spending lakhs of rupees. The Lower Mirzapur Khowapani Asoni that was constructed in 2002 was opened and supplied water to households there for a few months, but conked up soon after. The condition of the water supply schemes at Sokordou, Matia, Kuhabori etc., is no different.  The people of the LAC residing along the Meghalaya border have been pulling water from streams coming from the neighbouring State. How hygienic the water they collect is an open question.     The people of the LAC want that higher-ups in the department concerned just inspect the water supply schemes to ascertain what ail them and take immediate corrective measures so that regular and adequate supply of water can be restored in the area.

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