PHE minister admits failure

Opposition corners government on PHE schemes

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Dec 10: Many water supply scheme of the PHE department are now defunct due to government negligence. On a discussion related to PHE schemes in the ongoing winter session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, PHE Minister Sukur Ali on Thursday shamelessly admitted to failure in the departmental schemes.

Replying to a question in the house, PHE Minister Sukur Ali said, “Many schemes are lacking maintence work. It is the duty of the users committee to do the regular maintence required.”

He further admitted, “There is a provision of paying a remuneration of Rs 5000 per month to watchmen appointed in PHE schemes. But as the fince department is not releasing fund for several months now, we are uble to pay them.”

The opposition left no stone unturned and cornered the government over the issue. AIUDF MLA Gul Akhtara Begum said, “Water supply department is not doing any maintence. Many schemes are now defunct. Some others are lying in dilapidated condition due to negligence.”

AGP MLA Keshab Mahanta said, “People are now not getting drinking water as many schemes are defunct. In some places even if they are getting drinking water, the quality is poor.”

AIUDF MLA Mazibur Rahman on the other hand, said that in some places people get water for 10-12 days only in a month. “Diesel operated water supply schemes only functions for 10-12 days a month. For the remaining 18-20 days they remain non-functiol due to lack of diesel.”

AIUDF MLA Moinuddin Ahmed, meanwhile said, “In some PHE schemes, the department is giving up to 3-4 years to the contractor for completion of projects worth Rs 50 lakh. Moreover, the construction work is divided among many contractors. As a result the quality of the work degrades.” He also highlighted that, at a time when the PWD is completing projects worth R 50 crore within a time frame of 18 months, the excess time being taken by PHE department cannot be justified.