Ensure addl 10 MLD water by next summer: CM to agencies

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 8

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday directed various agencies to ensure availability of an additional 10 MLD water by enhancing the capacity of Gumma, Ashwani Khud and Giri river from where the water was being supplied to the town. He held a meeting with senior officers of various departments to review the measures being undertaken for improvement in water supply to the state capital from various water sources.

“More tube wells would be bored in the Ashwani khud area and check dams would be constructed upstream of Gumma and Giri water sources to enhance the availability of water to the town,” he said. He also revealed that nine additional storage tanks would be constructed in Shimla town that would help in storing an extra 17 MLD water to tide over shortage.

He directed the departments concerned to expedite work on the long-term plans so that the targets could be completed within a year without any delay. He also directed that work on medium-term plans being executed for enhancing water capacity in different schemes should be fast tracked.

He directed the officers of the Municipal Corporation Shimla to take immediate steps for checking leakage of water and completing the work on changing the main seven km water supply line from Craignano to Dhalli. He also said that water distribution system should be improved with work in Sanjauli, Engine Ghar and Totu Wards to begin first.

He stressed that all the departments concerned should work in close coordination so that unwanted delays could be avoided and the targets achieved within the stipulated time period.

Secretary, Irrigation Davesh Kumar said that ultraviolet radiation technology would be tried in Ashwani Khud water source to kill the germs and provide contamination-free water.