The first phase of commissioning of the West Guwahati Water Supply project under JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) was inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister (CM) Sarbanada Sonowal on 30th November last at Sadilapur, Jalukbari in Guwahati.
Although the inauguration was much-hyped, given that the state is at the cusp of the elections, it needs to be mentioned that only a section of the South West Guwahati Water Supply Project has been completed till date, after much delay at that.
While the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded North Guwahati Water Supply Project and the South-Central Guwahati Water Supply Project, as also the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funded West Guwahati Water Supply Project have been criticized time and again for their lethargic work pace, another water project has successfully kept itself out of the citizen’s radar despite no noticeable progress.
Prior to the last state polls, the saffron party had released a ‘vision document’ or a manifesto of sorts which had stated the party’s plan of action for Assam’s development in various sectors over the next five years. Among many other issues, the party had elaborated on the need for drinking water management in the state. Drinking water has been one of the perennial problems for the residents of Guwahati.
The BJP’s vision document mentioned: “Providing clean and safe drinking water to all households in Assam” and “Providing 24 hours urban water supply facilities.”
However, the party has failed to deliver on its poll promise of providing water even after five years.
To solve the water woes of the city, the Assam government had undertaken four ambitious water supply projects for Guwahati with the objective to provide an uninterrupted 24X7 water supply to residents. The implementation work for all four projects has been ongoing simultaneously in the city.
However, all four projects have missed their deadlines several times and have faced delays due to several reasons. These four projects include Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted North Guwahati Water Supply Project as well as the South-Central Guwahati Water Supply Project, West Guwahati Water Supply Project funded by JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) while ADB (Asian Development Bank) is funding the South East Guwahati Water Supply Project. On completion of the projects, the Guwahati Jal Board will be given the responsibility for the operation and maintenance of all four projects.
While 65 percent of the JICA-funded project has reportedly been completed and has been catering water supply to around 10,000 households, and the first phase commissioning of the JNNURM project has been completed, work at the South East Guwahati Water Supply Project under the Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment Project (AUIIP) continues to limp sluggishly.
South East Guwahati Water Supply Project
Initiated in 2012, progress on the work is negligent. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided multi-tranch financing to the Indian government under AUIIP. The loan agreement was signed on March 9, 2012, between the ADB and the government of India.
In order to promote urban development in Guwahati and Dibrugarh, ADB provided a loan of Rs 436.59 crores. Three projects were implemented by AUIIP with the loaned amount, including the South East Guwahati Water Supply Scheme (Phase I) that comprised the construction of water intake and water diversion structures, water treatment facilities, water transmission system and service reservoirs. The implementation of the project was to be completed by 31st December 2017.
On completion, it will provide 24-hour water supply to the residents of the South East Guwahati Zone of the Guwahati Metropolitan Area.
The project was to cover an area of around 71 sq km, catering water to a projected population of 5,08,025 in 2030 and 8,04.877 in 2045.
The project was divided into three phases-–
i. Construction of the water intake works, raw water rising main, the water treatment plant and pure water pumping station,
ii. Construction of pure water rising main, feeder mains to all storage reservoirs and pipelines,
iii. Construction of six reservoirs, including approach roads.
Sources in AUIIP stated that no significant work has been done till date and the supply of water to South East Guwahati continues to be just a distant dream with no hopes of completion in the near future.
However, officials opine that work is in progress and will be completed before the loan closure date of 21st June, 2021.
Officials have said that the construction of storage reservoirs of various capacities at three locations, approach road, and allied work in Guwahati has been awarded to Shivam Transcom Private Ltd. The total contract cost of the work is over Rs. 37 crores. The three reservoirs are currently under construction at Gopalnagar, North Jyotinagar and Kenduguri, of which 80.30 percent has been completed.
Further, construction of the water supply transmission road, pipeline, and allied works in Guwahati was awarded to Tirupati Cement Products at a cost of around Rs. 77 crores. 89 percent of the work has reportedly been completed. Notably, the South East Guwahati Water Supply Scheme was to have a total of six water reservoirs, the construction of only three of which is in progress. The construction of rest three at Panjabari, Basistha, and Hengrabari are yet to be awarded.
People of VIP Road and Geetanagar, expressing their rage over the lack of progress said, “The authorities broke down our well-constructed roads to insert huge pipelines in 2018. Since then no progress has been made. We neither have hopes of water supply nor proper passage. We demand that the government take immediate measures.”
