Shimla water crisis: All equal, no tanker for VIPs, orders HC

Shimla, May 29

Amid the ongoing water crisis in the summer capital, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed the Municipal Commissioner to stop supply of water through tankers to individuals, more so in VIP areas housing judges, ministers, MLAs, bureaucrats, police officers, or commercial establishments.

The court, however, clarified that the order will not include residences and offices of the Governor and Chief Minister.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel also suspended all construction activity within the Shimla planning area for a week. 

The court directed the Chief Secretary to immediately approach the Army authorities for diversion of water from the Annadale golf course as also the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, which has huge water storage tanks, to mitigate the prevailing situation.

The court directed that all car washing operations within the municipal limits will remain suspended for a week or till the situation improves.

Advocate General Ashok Sharma informed the court that pursuant to the meeting convened by the Chief Minister, a committee had been constituted and the Chief Secretary was monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. The Municipal Commissioner also filed a status report of the water supply scheme.

The court observed that “the overall position is of crisis, which requires nothing but effective management and immediate redress at the ground level so residents receive the bare minimum quantity of potable water”.

It further observed: “Undisputedly, as on date, 18.5 MLD (approximately) of water is being received by the MC from all sources. It is this water that is required to be distributed to all residents and commercial establishments within the municipal limits of the town.

“The entire Shimla municipal area stands divided into three zones and each  zone is to receive water after a gap of two days,” it observed. — TNS