Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma splashed attention on Williamnagar, East Garo Hills, today with the laying of the foundation for the first phase of the Williamnagar Urban Water Supply Project.
The first phase was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 121 crores, with 90 percent of this to be borne by the Centre and 10 percent by the state. The aim of the project is that it will cater to the water demands of Williamnagar up to 2050.
Also present on the occasion were Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore, Public Health Engineering Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and MLAs Marcuise Marak, Jim Sangma and Abdus Saleh.
Under Phase 1 of the project, construction of intake, laying of 500mm diameter MS gravity main, construction of treatment plant, laying of MS feeder mains, construction of eight out of 14 elevated service reservoirs (ESRs) and laying of HDPE distribution pipes to four wards of the town, covering a total of 7,229 households, are proposed.
Phase 2 will comprise construction of the other six ESRs, new distribution systems to remaining wards, approach roads, power lines, staff quarters, etc.
It is expected that the Williamnagar urban area will grow from 56,412 people in 2011 to 96,447 in 2030 and 1.42 lakh by 2045.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to Kishore for laying the foundation on the 75th birth anniversary of the late Purno A Sangma, former CM and Speaker of Parliament.
“We remember him as a person who committed himself to work for the progress of the state and the country,” Sangma said.
Talking about various initiatives taken for the development of East Garo Hills, he said a project worth Rs 25 crore for improving internal road projects in Williamnagar is currently underway.
“The 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.
Kishore reminded the gathering of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concerns for the North East. During his speech, he also paid tribute to Purno on his birth anniversary.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya government, through the Chief Minister, disbursed funds amounting to Rs 32.30 lakh under the FOCUS farmer’s welfare programme and Rs 12.69 lakh under the FOCUS+ benefit scheme, with close to 2,000 farmers benefiting.
In addition, funds totaling Rs 11.60 lakh were distributed to 23 groups under the YESS Meghalaya Youth Empowerment Programme.
Under the Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme, PROGRESS, 76 piglets were distributed to pig rearers based in East Garo Hills.
