ITANAGAR: Inordinate delay in completion of drinking water mega project at Aohali in Mebo constituency under East Siang district has evoked massive public reaction as the Pasighat division of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has miserably failed to supply drinking water to the concerned villages under the constituency. The project under Union Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER)) was funded under Non–Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR). The DoNER ministry accorded necessary administrative and financial approval for “Providing potable drinking water supply to Mebo Sub–division headquarters and adjoining villages in East Siang district”. The much hyped drinking water mega projects at Aohali, at 21 km far east from Mebo town started in 2010 and its scheduled time of completion was March 2012. But, it could not be materialized within the time scheduled and yet to see the light of the day. The villages like Siluk, Kiyit, Ngopok, Borguli, Sigar and others are still waiting for water to be supplied from the mega project. Lack of water supply in the villages is compelling the consumers to fetch water from unhygienic water sources, which has resulted in spread of various water–borne diseases. It is reported that along the 200 mm DI pipe laid, water is flowing in 80 mm level in the pipe, which is too inadequate to meet the water demand in Mebo township. The mega project is yet to supply water to the nearby villages. Alleging financial irregularity in implementing the project, the local villagers of Mebo said that the implementing agency has already spent an amount of Rs 22 crore released against the project but still the water supply system in Mebo town area and adjoining area has not been improved. “The mega project is delayed without any reasonable ground. Our MLA Ralom Borang, who made the mega project a poll–plank during the last election, is not putting any attention on time–bound competition of the development projects in the area” lamented Lenzing Pertin, a public leader of Mebo. Pertin, who is State council member of BJP, submitted petition to Pasighat PHED under the provisions of RTI Act, 2005 and had some substantial information on cost and expenditures against the construction works in Aohali mega project. He alleged that huge amount of money out of the released fund has been misappropriated by the department engineers in a fraudulent manner with help of fake vouchers/bills. Being annoyed with the undue delay of Aohali mega project, the local people have demanded the authority to publish a “white paper” on utilization of fund against the drinking water project.