Tourist season begins, Dharamsala faces water shortage

Dharamsala, May 20

Dharamsala is facing drinking water shortage with the beginning of the tourist season.

Residents said the city had sufficient water supply until 2005-06. But as the population grew and tourist arrivals increased, the pressure on water supply lines also rose manifold.

It is now rather difficult to get food cooked with limited water supply, residents said. Hoteliers said visitors often complained that they do not get enough water for their daily chores, and this had negatively impacted their business. Many public toilets in the city had to be shut due to water shortage.

Vishal Bakshi, an official of the Irrigation and Public Health Department, said water supply had decreased from the sources and the department was not getting enough water at the moment. — PTI