Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister said the state government would make long term plans for drinking water supply in Shimla by taping various sources.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while reviewing water supply situation in Shimla town with senior officers of the state government through video conferencing from New Delhi today said the state government was committed for adequate water supply to all parts of the state.
He said he had been monitoring the Shimla water crisis situation from the last fifteen days and as 28.47 MLD water was received on Saturday, he was hopeful the situation would improve further soon and people of the town would get normal water supply.
Congress Government responsible for water crises
The Chief Minister blamed previous Congress government for water crisis in Shimla. Thakur said that the Congress led previous state government had failed to execute any water supply scheme for the town.
SDO MC Shimla suspended
IPH Minister Mahender Singh Thakur today directed to suspend SDO of Municipal Corporation, Shimla for negligence in water distribution in Shimla town. He said the government would not tolerate any laxity of the officers or officials in their duties and strict action would be taken against those found guilty. The Minister also directed to follow the time schedule fixed for water supply in different areas of the town.
Meanwhile, residents of Shimla city are still facing acute water crises. Despite dividing Shimla into three zones to ensure improved and even water supply, the MC Shimla has failed to provide water in the designated zones. Angry residents have intensified their protest against authority. Angry protesters are blocking roads and raising slogans against the MC Shimla and the state government. The MC Shimla claiming of supplying adequate water in the zones, while protest of residents revealing the bitter truth. Residents are depending of bottled water for cooking and drinking.
Water supply of defaulter hotels snapped
Facing flak from the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, which is monitoring the water situation on a day-to-day basis, the Municipal Corporation has disconnected the water connections of 14 hotels for their failure to clear the pending arrears. The Municipal Corporation has prepared a list of 39 defaulters.
There are more than 450 hotels and over 100 paying guest houses that consume nearly four MLD of water daily. On the other hand, the population of the city, estimated to be over 2 lakh, was getting only 18 MLD of water as four MLD was wasted in leakage during distribution from pumping stations to storage tanks and in private distribution pipelines, reported by the leading English daily.
It’s alleged that the several hotel owners had secured direct water connections from the main line, one such case was came into light when Shimla DC found water connection to a private apartments from main line in Jakhu region of the city.
Shimla water crises: Tourism Sector hit hard
With the ongoing water crises in the city, which is also a major tourist destination in North India, tourism has hit hard. Many hotels are not taking advance booking and even some has canceled booking in wake of water crises in the city.
Meanwhile, the state government has claimed of making adequate arrangement to facilitate tourists visiting Shimla. A Spokesman of the HP Tourism department claimed of making adequate arrangements and no crisis of water.
Officer claimed that the water availability was improving each day and rains yesterday also brought some relief regarding increase in water level as well weather wise.
He said that elaborate efforts were going on war footing to ensure resolving of the situation which has arised due to inadequate rainfall as well as snowfall last winter. In addition to this, global warming has contributed to drying up of traditional water sources, he added.
He said that adequate water supply was being ensured to hotels and there was no dearth of facilities being extended to tourists, the spokesman reiterated.
