Shimla has ample water this summer

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 21

The Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam (SJPN) has not only started daily water supply but also ensured 24-hour supply in some selected areas. It plans to provide uninterrupted water supply to residents under the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) in the near future.

There is no water problem this summer as an increased demand of water due to floating tourist population of about one lakh is missing due to the Covid pandemic. In spite of the fact that the water consumption of an average household has increased due to spread of coronavirus and people staying home more, 42-43 MLD water is being supplied every day.

The requirement during summers is about 46-47 MLD, with tourist population, but this year water is available in plenty. The water tanks installed by the hotels for static storage of water are empty as hotels are shut. This has proved a boon for local residents, a retired employee of the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) department said.

“Over 620 connections in Sanjauli area are getting 24-hour water supply while 550 connections around the Mall Road are supplied water for 14 hours,” said Dharmender Gill, Managing Director SJPNL.

The transmission losses have been reduced to 2 per cent due to the plugging of leakages and replacement of worn-out lines, he said, adding that to reduce the distribution losses, which is about 20 per cent at present, a Rs 411-crore tender would be awarded by October 2020 to replace the old network.

During the previous years, the demand of water increased during the summers and water availability reduced significantly due to the drying of water sources. However, sources said there would have been no shortage even if there was no Covid as the Nigam had taken a number of measures to augment the supply and also achieved highest pumping of 60 MLD water.