IT to the Rescue: Internet of Things To Better Manage Meghalaya’s Water Distribution System

The New Shillong Water Supply Scheme (Phase-I) has been allocated Rs 538.44 crore under the State Plan

The Meghalaya government has taken a significant step toward modernizing its water distribution system by integrating Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) technology with the Internet of Things (IoT) for the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme.

This initiative aims to improve monitoring, enhance efficiency, and ensure better governance in water management.

Meghalaya PHE Minister Marcuise N. Marak explained that the SCADA system will be implemented from the source point to the water treatment plant. It will include local area network (LAN) compatibility and allow real-time data capture through a network. The entire system will be automated from the command control room, and features like pressure and leakage monitoring will be integrated into the pipeline system.

He pointed out the advantages of the technology, emphasizing that it would significantly improve issue identification. Currently, if a pipe bursts, officials need to be sent to locate the problem. With the new system, issues will appear on the dashboard, allowing immediate identification and resolution.

The Minister also addressed that the challenges of involving local contractors in such high-tech projects, acknowledging that many local contractors lack the necessary expertise for these advanced technologies.
However, he stressed the importance of adopting modern technology for the future of the state, even if it means not being able to accommodate local contractors in this case.

Providing an update on the New Shillong Township project, Marak confirmed that the government has issued a tender worth approximately Rs 500 crore, with work already underway. He also noted that the detailed project report was not available for him to provide specific figures.

Regarding the possibility of expanding the technology to the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme, Marak stated that this could be explored in the future.

The New Shillong Water Supply Scheme (Phase-I) has been allocated Rs 538.44 crore under the State Plan and is being executed as an EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) contract. This includes surveying, investigation, design, procurement, construction, and installation of the entire water supply system.

The integration of SCADA with the IoT technology is poised to revolutionize water management in Meghalaya, providing real-time monitoring and efficient solutions for issues within the water supply network, marking a significant step toward modernized governance.

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