Shillong, September 1, 2022: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Minister of State (MoS) Housing and Urban Affairs, Kaushal Kishore, on Thursday laid the foundation for the Williamnagar Urban Water Supply Project Phase-I, in the presence of PHE Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and MLAs Marcuise Marak, Jim Sangma and Abdus Saleh at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills.
Williamnagar Urban Water Supply Project Phase-I was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 121 crores under AMRUT 2.0 in the funding pattern of 90:10. The Scheme was accorded sanction under AMRUT 2.0 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India. This Scheme will cater to the water demand of the town up to the year 2050.
Under Phase – I of the project, construction of intake, laying of 500mm dia MS Gravity Main, construction of Treatment Plant, laying of MS Feeder Mains, construction of 8 (eight) out of 14 (fourteen) Elevated Service Reservoirs and laying of HDPE distribution pipes to 4 Wards of the Town, covering a total of 7229 households, are proposed.
The other components of the project viz., construction of remaining 6 ESRs, laying of new distribution system to remaining wards, construction of approach roads, drawal of the power line, construction of staff quarters in WTP & Control area, improvement of existing water supply scheme and installation of monitoring system (SCADA) will be implemented under Phase-II of the Project.
The present population of Williamnagar Urban Area, having 48 localities and office colonies, works out to be 56,412 people and 7,992 Households projected over 2011 census along with institutional and office population.
The prospective population considered for the next 15 years works out to be 96,447 people and the ultimate population for the next 30 years is 1,42,118 people.
The source of water named ‘Chibe Stream’ was identified and dry weather discharge of this source was found adequate to meet the ultimate demand of the scheme i.e. 8,33,335.00 litres/day. The capacity of the Treatment Plant is 15.00 Million litres per day.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the MoS for laying the foundation on the occasion of the 75th Birth Anniversary of Late Purno A. Sangma. “We remember him as a person who committed himself to work for the progress of the state and the country,” the Chief Minister said.
He also thanked the Ministry for extending all support for sanctioning the project for the overall interest of the State and particularly for the people of Williamnagar town.
The Chief Minister also lauded the efforts of the PHE department, Minister and local MLA for taking the initiative to push for the project. He also took the opportunity to inform the gathering about different projects under the water supply scheme. He said that projects amounting to Rs. 2000 cr are currently being implemented in the State.
He also informed that under Jal Jeevan proposals worth Rs. 3000 cr are under the advanced stage of consideration by the Government of India.
Talking about various initiatives taken for development in East Garo Hills, he said a project worth Rs. 25 cr for improving internal road projects in Williamnagar is currently underway.
“Government has taken the initiative for change and Meghalaya has made rapid strides in many of the developmental indexes in the past 4.5 years”, he added.
MoS Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Kaushal Kishore, reminded the gathering of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his concerns for the Northeast. Kishore said that Williamnagar Water Supply Project is an initiative of the Govt that will ensure water to every household in Williamnagar.
He informed that Modi, through different flagship programmes of the Govt, is working to take every State forward. He also lauded Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for his endeavour to push growth and development in the State. During his speech, he also paid tribute to (L) Purno Agitok Sangma on his 75th birth anniversary.