HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA AT SHILLONG PIL No. 17 of 2025 Date of order: 17.12.2025 The Registrar General, vs State of Meghalaya High Court of Meghalaya Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Soumen Sen, Chief Justice Hon’ble Mr. Justice H.S.Thangkhiew, Judge Appearance: For the Petitioner : For the Respondent : Mr A. Kumar, AG with Ms R. Colney, GA The status report on behalf of the respondents is filed by the learned Advocate General. 2. Learned Advocate General has submitted that on account of widening of road and also on account of earth filling by NHIDCL, one of the feeder lines got damaged on 09.12.2025. The PHE Department has noticed that on account of developmental activities and widening of road, the feeder water supply lines which were used to be on one side of the road, it came on the centre of the road. In order to prevent further damage of feeder lines in future, it has to be shifted to edge or one side of the expanded road. Steps have been taken to shift both the feeder line to one side of the road to prevent damage of the water supply line in future and also old pipes were required to be replaced. 3, It is further submitted that the coordination of NHIDCL is required to identify the entire stretch of widening and expansion and also Serial No. 08 Supplementary List 2025:MLHC:1240-DB achieving the formation level of the road in respect of all construction that NHIDCL has undertaken and propose to undertake so that this kind of incident does not occur in future. In the status report it is indicated that the pipelines to the extent of 300 mtr of 350 and 300 mm diameter were required to be replaced and aligned for the purpose of stabilising the pipelines, concrete mixture blocks were used for anchoring the pipelines and that the hardening of concrete would require initially 12 hours and for that reason, the water could not be released immediately on replacement and alignment of pipelines. However, the learned Advocate General has assured that the entire work would be completed very soon. It is, however, submitted that 12 hours would be required to release water in the existing and replaced pipeline and the same has been done by the PHE Department and that the water has been released with lesser pressure at 5 a.m. on 16.12.2025, albeit with lesser water pressure. The status report has disclosed various steps taken by the PHE Department to ensure restoration of water supply to the affected areas. 4. Mr S. Sen, learned counsel has submitted that the situation has not improved as promised earlier and has brought to our notice the report published in “The Shillong Times” today i.e., 17.12.2025. The learned counsel has drawn our attention to the caption of the front page of the newspaper where two news items have been published under “Fresh leakage hits GSWSS shortly after resumption” and “Water crisis enters 2025:MLHC:1240-DB 7th day amid mounting public rage.” The first news item has reported that a relief that came after a week only lasted for two hours. The report has also referred to the complaints of the residents and one of the residents appears to have said that the Government has its own fleet of tankers and must deploy them in emergencies. It being reported that taking advantage of the acute problem, tanker operators are exploiting the situation with high rates which they are unable to sustain. 5. The Shillong Municipal Board appears to have stated that it cannot provide large scale water relief during GSWSS shut down. The learned Advocate General has submitted that the repairing works are proceeding on a work team and the water crisis would be over very soon. In the meantime, the PHE Department along with the Shillong Municipal Board would ensure that drinking water would be made available to the inhabitants of the localities and for that adequate fleet of tankers would be deployed soon. 6. We hope that the water crisis would be solved within 48 hours and all steps shall be taken to ensure that the water crisis is over at the earliest. Henceforth, there shall be a coordination of NHDICL with the PHE Department before any such road widening project is undertaken by NHIDCL, as it prima facie appears to be that by reason of excavation work carried out by NHIDCL, the cracks have developed in the pipelines 2025:MLHC:1240-DB that had resulted in leakage of water. As stated in the status report, immediate steps should be taken to replace the old pipelines. 7. A copy of this order shall be forwarded to the Chairman, NHIDCL for information and issuance of directions to various departments of NHIDCL operating in the State of Meghalaya. 8. The copy of “The Shillong Times” dated 17.12.2025 is kept with the record. 9. PIL stands disposed of. (H.S.Thangkhiew) (Soumen Sen) Judge Chief Justice Meghalaya 17.12.2025 “Sylvana PS” 2025:MLHC:1240-DB Digitally signed by SYLVANA LIZ KHARBHIH Date: 2025.12.17 19:35:24 IST