SHILLONG, MAY 5: The state Cabinet has approved a revised estimate of Rs 770 crore for Phase-I of the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme, up from the earlier Rs 553 crore.

“The state cabinet has approved the revised estimates of New Shillong Water Supply Scheme Phase-I,” Cabinet Minister and MDA spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla told reporters after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Explaining the Rs 217 crore cost escalation, he said the main reason was the relocation of the dam site upstream due to the proposed scientific landfill at Nonghali.

“This is because of the shifting of the area for construction of a dam where we have to take it upstream with the coming up of the scientific landfill in Nonghali,” he said.

The revised cost also factors in dedicated electrical lines for the project and higher land acquisition expenses. 

“Also because we have to have dedicated electrical lines — that has also increased the cost and at the same time because for the land acquisition as we will be needing a lot of land. That is why it is for the land acquisition as well,” Shylla added.

Asked why the dam was not shifted earlier, Shylla said the landfill site was finalized only after the water supply scheme’s plan was already prepared. 

“This was way before because during the scientific landfill, many EOIs came in. So at that point of time we did not know which landfill will be suitable. When they went for inspection then only they came to know that Nonghali is feasible,” he said.

“But by the time, the PHE department, for the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme, the plan was already there. That is why later on we realized it is for the water supply scheme so it cannot be near the landfill. So that is why we have to push it upstream,” Shylla said.