Guwahati, May 5: The Assam government today reviewed the status of the capital city's first 24x7 drinking water supply project and decided to release Rs 30 crore at the earliest to complete and commission it.

The development came a day after The Telegraph highlighted how hurdles have come in the way of early commissioning of the South Guwahati West Water Supply Project.

The news published on Thursday stated that funds crunch as well as post-election inertia in Dispur -- when bureaucrats prefer to wait and see who forms the government - have put the brakes on commissioning of the scheme. The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), which is implementing the project, has not yet received Rs 80 crore to complete and commission it.

Sources told this correspondent that chief secretary V.K. Pipersenia this morning had convened a meeting of officials of the GMDA and other stakeholders of the project and reviewed its status of progress in execution. Piper-senia said funds crunch must not be a constraint for such a public welfare project and instructed officials concerned to release necessary funds at an early date to complete 5 per cent remaining work of the project. The government will release Rs 30 crore at the earliest for the project.

The project, which will cover areas in the western part of the city from Bharalumukh to LGBI Airport, was initially scheduled to be completed in 2011. It has already missed a couple of revised deadlines, the last ones being in April and December 2015.

The GMDA had planned to hand over the project to Guwahati Jal Board before the monsoon.