JJM projects in Jaintia Hills, EKH affected due to delay in power connection: PHE Minister

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 31, 2024

Minister in-charge Public Health Engineering (PHE) Marcuise N Marak on Wednesday informed that 73.69 percent of the 6.51 lakh targeted households have been provided with functional tap connection under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).

Speaking to reporters, Marak said, “We are looking for 100% water connection by March of this year. Let’s see what we can do.”

He said, “The work is going on full swing but some issues and some of the works, the terrain is such that it is very difficult but we are doing our level best and before monsoon we are trying to complete the works.”

Asked, Marak said that some of the projects under JJM mostly in Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills have been affected due to the failure to get power connection.

According to him, this is because most of the projects in the Khasi and Jaintia regions are pumping projects and they require power connection for supplying water to the household taps.

“Therefore, we have directed our department officials to get in touch with the MeECL officials and then work in collaboration with them,” Marak told reporters.

Marak said that he would also soon flag the issue before the chief minister Conrad K Sangma for his intervention.

“I will request him (CM) to have a joint meeting of power department and PHE so that we can resolve it at the earliest,” he added.