Rs 19.67 crore Rupacherra piped water supply scheme inaugurated

A Correspondent

Hailakandi, May 17: Minister for Public Health Engineering Department, Rihon Daimari on Thursday inaugurated the Integrated Rupcherra Multi-Village Piped Water Supply Scheme worth over Rs.19.67 crore in Hailakandi district. Inaugurating the scheme at a function at Rupcherra, a nondescript village, minister Daimari said through the scheme, beginning today, people of seven tea gardens and adjoining areas would get safe and piped drinking water. Altogether 23,000 families covering 44 habitations would get drinking water through taps in their households. Besides people will get drinking water from 80 street hydrants installed under the scheme.

With an intake capacity of 3.00 MLD, the scheme that draws water from Katakhal river, covers Rupacherra, Vernapur, Lalamukh, Lalacherra, Jugicherra, Sonacherra and Dholai areas. Daimari called upon the tea garden workers, the rural people, the tea garden management and the administration for constitution of an efficient and competent user’s committee for making the scheme sustainable. “The government has executed the scheme for you and the onus lies on you to render the scheme viable and sustainable. If you do not do so, the scheme won’t last and will become defunct,” he added.

The minister said he would hold discussions with the managers and owners of the tea gardens to render all possible support to make the scheme sustainable as the scheme would mostly benefit the plantation workers. “We will hand over the scheme to the tea garden management and the responsibility lies on them in running the water supply project,” he said. Daimari called upon the PHED engineers to ensure quality of the drinking water being supplied through the 68.40 km long pipe line network. Daimari also asked the engineers to maintain proper cleanliness in and around the water storage tanks and stand posts. Former minister Gautam Roy said he was elated that the project that began during his tenure as Minister PHED in 2012 had been completed today. He made a plea to the PHED Minister for completion of two water supply schemes at Bakrihower and Boalipar in Hailakandi district.