Water supply pipes stolen from Guwahati found in Meghalaya

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, May 29: Pipes meant for water supply projects go missing from Guwahati, mysteriously. The investigation into the case has led the City Police to unearth an Assam-Meghalaya racket engaged in stealing pipes.

Pipes meant for various water supply projects went missing from areas like Gauhati Club, Chenikuthi, Gitagar, Lokhra, Saibaba Mandir, Ashram Road, GMCH, Hatigaon, Krishgar, Lokhra Road, Hengrabari, ISBT, MC Road, rikolbasti, Ulubari, etc. This year alone around 800 pipes went missing from such spots in the city.

Cases were lodged in Latasil police station, Gitagar police station, Gorchuk police station, North Guwahati Outpost, Dispur police station, Paltan Bazar police station, Bhangagarh police station, Hatigaon police station, Chandmari police station, Fatasil Ambari police station, etc. However, the police failed to book any of the culprits involved in the lifting of pipes from the city.

In April this year, project director of implementation unit of JICA-assisted Guwahati Water Supply Project Dr. Ravi Kota submitted a memorandum to the Guwahati Police Commissioner on the mysterious missing of pipes meant for water supply projects in the city. He made mention of the cases lodged in various police stations in the city. Kota sought persol interest of the police commissioner in the case and issue necessary instructions to resolve the matter.  A case on lifting of pipes was lodged in Chandmari police station on May 20. Acting on the case, Chandmari police reached a wrought iron factory – Jaintia Ferrels Private Ltd – at Byrnihat in Meghalaya and recovered a large number of pipes worth lakhs of rupees buried underground. The lead in the case came when IVRCL workers who were laying pipes for JICA saw pipes being loaded to a truck using a crane at Milan gar in the Chandmari area on May 19. The workers took note of the number of the truck. The case filed on May 20 had the number of the truck used to lift the pipes. The police then arrested truck driver Sahidul Islam and owner Ramen Kalita from Panjabari. Their confessiol statement revealed the entire gang involved in the stealing of pipes from the city. This lead led the police to the factory in Meghalaya. The police dug out the pipes buried under the ground on the night of May 27. The police suspect that the pipes are melted there so as to make other materials.

JICA thanked the police for resolving one of the cases filed. They appealed to the police to be active to resolve such other cases filed with them as well.