Fears of water wars is fast turning into a reality with acute water crisis in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district now a law and order issue.
Thursday in the State Legislative Assembly, Meghalaya Speaker, Charles Pyngrope sensing the gravity of the situation, agreed to suggestions to facilitate an inquiry into alleged corrupt practises of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, leading to water crisis in the State. Meghalaya is one of the smaller north-eastern States situated in India.
Pyngrope said that rules would be studied whether a Standing Committee of the House can investigate into corrupt practises of the PHE department.
West Garo Hills’ headquarter Tura and several parts of the State have been hit by severe water crisis, especially during this lean Winter-Spring seasons.
The district administration of West Garo Hills has imposed section 144 CrPC prohibiting people to pump water from streams. “Section 144 CrPC have been clamped in Tura and this is creating law and order problem,” senior NCP leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker, Purno Sangma said yesterday.
He demanded that a House Committee or the CBI to conduct an investigation of the PHE department. The matter was raised again today by Opposition leader, Conrad Sangma and the Speaker agreed that rules would be studied if a Standing Committee of the House can conduct such an inquiry.
“I am buying water worth Rs 3000 every day in Tura. I am unhappy with this PHE department and I am 100 per cent sure that if an investigation is carried out there would be many scams unearthed,” he asserted.
Apparently most of the water pumps in several districts of the State have outlived their lifespan and has not been replaced or lying waste due to poor maintenance.
During the short discussion for an inquiry Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma did not readily agree to a House inquiry, saying, legislators must first provide some sort of evidence about alleged corruption in the PHE department.
Former PHE minister, Prestone Tyngsong joined in and got in a verbal duel with Conrad for awhile, stating, the matter of water crisis was thoroughly discussed.
However, the Speaker intervened and ruled in favour of the Opposition.