Shillong, Aug 25: The state has revised the cost of the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme (NSWSS) phase-I to Rs 772.92.
The original sanction was Rs 538.44 crore. This is an increase of Rs 234.48 crore.
In reply to a call attention notice tabled by Mawryngkneng MLA Heaving Stone Kharpran. PHE Minister Marcuise Marak informed the Assembly on Tuesday that
the scheme is aimed at providing sustainable potable water to New Shillong Township, the Mawkhanu Knowledge City, and 32 adjoining villages, including Mawdiangdiang, Mawpdang, Diengpasoh, Nonghali, Umsawli and others, along with institutions and offices.
He said that phase-I involves construction of a dam and jackwells at Nonghali (Umkhen river), laying of MS pumping main, Stage-I pumping station at Diengpasoh, pumps/motors, water treatment plant at Mawpdang, approach roads, SCADA system and land acquisition.
Explaining the cost escalation, Marak said five interrelated factors made revision unavoidable.
The main reason, he said, is shifting of the dam site further upstream after it was found that a landfill was proposed near the original site at Nonghali.
To avoid environmental and public health risks, the dam had to be redesigned with increased width, structural dimensions, changes in overflow/non-overflow sections, and redesign of radial gates and spillways, pushing up civil and mechanical costs.
The shift also required additional earthwork and slope stabilisation around the jackwell area, which was not part of the original estimate.
Other reasons include compensation demands from Dorbar Shnongs of Nonghali, Diengpasoh and Mawpdang for laying pipelines across customary lands, provision of dedicated power infrastructure for pumping stations not included in the original DPR, and dismantling and restoration of about 1.5 km of PWD road at Jaroit and Diengpasoh due to alignment change, he said.
The original administrative approval was granted on March 15, 2024, while the revised approval was accorded on May 26, 2026.
