Heat wave affects water supply to Queen of Hills

SHIMLA: With the heat wave conditions prevailing in Shimla, the water supply to the town has reduced from 51.16 MLD (million litres per day) to 45.31 MLD in the past five days as there has been no rain in the catchment area for the past 10 days and the discharge from small sources like the Chaid, Seyoug and Churat has been erratic.

There has been no rain in the catchment area for the past 10 days and the discharge from small sources like the Chaid, Seyoug and Churat has been erratic.

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 10

With the heat wave conditions prevailing in Shimla, the water supply to the town has reduced from 51.16 MLD (million litres per day) to 45.31 MLD in the past five days as there has been no rain in the catchment area for the past 10 days and the discharge from small sources like the Chaid, Seyoug and Churat has been erratic.

However, the silver lining is that the discharge from main sources of the Gumma and Giri supplying over 75-85 per cent of the water is smooth and the Meteorological Department has predicted thunderstorm accompanied by rain on June 11, 12 and 16. At present, water is being supplied to Shimla from the Noti, Gumma, Giri, Churat, Seyoug, Chaid and Koti Bradi.

The water supply today dropped to 45.31 MLD following failure in powergrid for about four hours. As a result, the Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam (SJPN) supplied water between one and one-and-a-half hour to every area to ensure supply to all residents.

“There is nothing to worry as the Rs 80-crore Chaba-Gumma lift drinking water scheme, which will provide an additional 10 MLD water to the capital, has been completed and tested successfully, said Managing Director of the SJPN Dharmender Gill. Ten MLD water from the Sutlej will be lifted at Chaba and will be supplied through a 45-mm pipeline to the Gumma pumping house from where the water is lifted through the existing pipeline to Shimla. This water has not been used till now and it will act as succour during summer months when the 21 MLD Gumma scheme faces water shortage, said Gill.

Moreover, measures have been taken to ensure that there is no water shortage in the capital and discharge of water at sources is being monitored on a daily basis.

“Distribution losses have been reduced to minimum with the replacement of leaking pipes. In the worst scenario, the time of water supply could be reduced by a few minutes, said Rajesh Kashyap, regional general manager, SJPN.

The minimum requirement of the town with over 2 lakh population was about 45 MLD which increases 8-10 MLD during the peak tourist season due to the floating tourist population which is one lakh on the higher side.