Residents of Shillong city have been fed with turbid drinking water for the last two weeks forcing them to buy water from private tankers.
“How can we use this tap water which is so muddy?” a resident of Jaiaw said today.
Across the city, private water tankers had a field day as people were forced to buy water for cooking and washing purposes.
Those who could not afford to buy water had to depend on rain water.
The matter was also raised by North Shillong MLA, Adelbert Nongrum in the Assembly today.
PHE Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar told the House that the supply of turbid water was due to the ongoing laying of pipelines in the Upper Shillong area.
Meanwhile, the Executive Engineer (PHE), GSWS Division No-II, Mawphlang has informed that after commissioning of newly laid 1000 mm diameter Gravity Main Line with effect from September 2 till date, the water quality is still turbid which requires to revert the supply from the existing 750 mm diameter Gravity Main Line.
“While releasing the water on the evening of September 13 through the 750 mm diameter main line, the pipeline burst at Pomlum village, Upper Shillong. Due to the breakdown of the pipeline there will be no water supply till the evening of September 16,” the Executive Engineer said.
He also informed that the areas which will be affected during the above period are Shillong Municipal Board areas, Shillong Cantonment Board areas, Nongthymmai and Mawlai.
The engineer also said that every effort was being made to complete the repair works for restoration of normal water supply by the evening of September 16.
