Shillong, April 21: There are hurdles in the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Public Health Engineering Minister Marcuise N Marak said there are some hurdles being faced by the department while implementing the JJM due to difficult terrain and road connectivity.
“There are areas where the water source is not there and the department has to go for drilling and in some locations we don’t get the cooperation from the villagers as land issues are there,” he said.
However, the PHE department has been able to provide functional tap connections to over 3.10 lakh households in the state.
Marak said, “Our target is to provide functional tap connections to 6.51 lakh households and we have achieved 3.10 lakh households, which stands at 47.69 per cent.”
He said Meghalaya is the best performing state in terms of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) implementation and the state has received Rs 400 crore as incentives given by the Centre in three consecutive times.
“We also got additional funds for this year. We have Rs 3,000 plus crores for implementing the JJM…Therefore, in this current financial year we have to do our best to get the household tap connections,” he added.
The minister said there are some hurdles being faced by the department while implementing the JJM due to difficult terrain and road connectivity.
“There are areas where the water source is not there and the department has to go for drilling and in some locations we don’t get the cooperation from the villagers as land issues are there,” he said.
Land issue problem for GSWSS
Marak said the delay to commission the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) Phase-III was due to land issue.
“Because of the land issues now the project is pending otherwise we would have been commissioning it very soon. However, we are trying our level best to negotiate with the parties there and resolve the issue.”
He said that land issue is related to laying of pipes and construction of tanks in some locations and the landowners are demanding for employment.
He said the government is taking steps to resolve the issues at the earliest and ensure commissioning of the GSWSS Phase-III.
“I would like to appeal through you to all stakeholders to cooperate with the government and with the department so that we complete this project at the earliest as it has been lying pending for so long,” he said.
