Water crisis in Mussoorie, hoteliers fear tourist efflux, loss of business

Ajay Ramola

Tribune News service

Mussoorie, May 25

With rise in temperatures, the anger of Mussoorie residents, who are reeling under a water crisis, is also soaring. They are facing severe water shortage with only 7.67 MLD (million litres per day) available in comparison to the demand of 14.50 MLD in the town.

The situation has aggravated as water discharge from various natural springs, from where water is drawn through pumping stations for supply to the town, has fallen drastically. This has forced the Jal Sansthan to curtail supply in emergency and instead ration water.

The problem has become so grave that Congress activists staged a demonstration and locked the doors of the Jal Sansthan office for a few hours today. The protesters claimed that earlier the town used to get water supply twice each day but now it had been restricted to only half an hour every day. Residents of Jabarkhet, Landour Bazaar, Library Chowk, Camel’s Back Road, Landour Cantt, Spring Road etc., said the situation had becoming alarming this year, forcing them to fetch water in utensils from natural water sources around the town situated several kilometres away.

The Hotel and Restaurant Association is also worried about the situation and has demanded regular water supply in the town lest it drives away tourists during the ongoing season.

Meanwhile, Jal Santhan officials expressed their helplessness in resolving the crisis that had obtained due to the rising temperatures as water discharge from various perennial natural sources around the town had reduced drastically.

A scheme to draw drinking water from the Yamuna, near the Yamuna Bridge, has been envisaged to resolve the problem but it would take several years to complete.