Shillong, Apr 3: PHE officials have disclosed that the contractor engaged in a Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) project under Samanda Grenanggre had manipulated the project by briefly allowing water to flow through the newly laid pipelines, solely to secure signatures from the villagers for the withdrawal of funds.
This was revealed during a joint meeting organised by the Garo Hills Youth Solidarity (GHYS) in Samanda Grenanggre on April 1 to address the longstanding issues surrounding the JJM project, which has been abandoned for over two years.
The meeting included officers and staff from the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department in Williamnagar, along with the Nokma and Sordar, and the concerned villagers.
This situation has raised serious allegations about corruption and the negligence of duty by the authorities, prompting villagers to demand accountability and transparency regarding the project.
GHYS joint secretary Daewish Marak stated that a project left incomplete for an extended period should be classified as “deserted” rather than “ongoing.” He questioned the integrity of the officials involved and called for those unwilling to fulfill their duties to resign.
Villagers expressed strong dissatisfaction and demanded transparency, including disclosure of the work order and the identity of the contractor. It was highlighted that despite filing an RTI application, the department refused to disclose these details.
Officials indicated that the contractor is a non-tribal individual from Tura identified as “Kondu,” who has failed to appear before the villagers. The villagers demanded accountability and sought to confront the contractor directly for the alleged cheating.
The PHE officials reassured that work would resume promptly and acknowledged the necessity for strict monitoring by both the villagers and GHYS members to ensure the project’s completion in a transparent manner.
The meeting concluded with a strong demand for immediate corrective measures, strict monitoring, and responsible governance to ensure that public welfare schemes are implemented effectively and honestly.
