Shillong, May 6: The Meghalaya government has revised the estimated cost of the New Shillong Township Water Supply Scheme from ₹538.44 crore to ₹772.96 crore, citing multiple technical, environmental and infrastructure-related changes in the project.
According to an official clarification issued by the government, the revised estimate reflects an increase of ₹234.52 crore, amounting to a cumulative rise of 43.55 percent in the project cost.
The New Shillong Urban Water Scheme (Phase-1) was originally sanctioned at a cost of ₹538.44 crore to provide potable water supply to New Shillong Township, Mawkhanu Knowledge City and 32 adjoining villages. The scheme has been designed to supply 135 litres per capita per day (LPCD) with projected population coverage up to 2057.
The government stated that the revision became necessary due to several key changes in the project design and execution.
One of the major reasons cited was the shifting of the proposed dam site further upstream after it was discovered that a landfill had been proposed near the original location at Nonghali village. This change increased the span of the dam from 70 metres to 165 metres and raised the number of radial gates from one to three, resulting in modifications to the structural dimensions of the project.
The clarification also mentioned additional earthwork required for jackwell slope stabilisation after relocation of the jackwell due to local topographical conditions around the area. This necessitated further excavation, earthwork and soil stabilisation measures.
Another factor behind the revised cost was compensation demands from local Dorbar Shnongs for laying raw water pumping pipelines across customary lands. The government noted that such compensation demands were not initially anticipated in the original DPR.
Further, the government said a dedicated power supply system has now become mandatory to ensure reliability and efficiency of the water supply infrastructure, though this component was not included in the original DPR.
The revised estimate also includes expenses for restoration of approximately 1.5 kilometres of existing PWD roads that would be dismantled and excavated for pipeline laying following changes in the alignment of the pumping main at Jaroit village and Diengpasoh village.
The government stated that the revised estimate is essential to ensure environmental safety by avoiding landfill proximity, achieve structural and hydraulic safety of the dam and jackwell, maintain community cooperation through fair land compensation, guarantee uninterrupted water supply through reliable power infrastructure and restore public assets affected during pipeline construction.
