Shimla Jal Nigam achieves 60.40 mld pumping

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 31

Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam (SJPN) today closed the 2018-19 financial year by pumping 60 MLD water in a day, breaking its own record of 53.90 MLD pumping. The achievement was a landmark as the installed capacity of Shimla water supply scheme was 54 MLD and additional pumping of 6.40 MLD was possible with 24 hours pumping.

The SJPN is experimenting every Saturday to achieve optimal level and 53.90 MLD pumping was achieved with 16 hours pumping, a week ago on March 24.

“The effort is to ensure that there is no water problem during the summer and both the local residents and tourist get regular water supply during the peak tourist session”, said Rajesh Kashyap, Regional General Manager, SJPN.

The normal requirement of water range between 40 MLD and 45 MLD and in case optimal pumping levels are maintained, there would be no problem during summers when the water consumption scales up due to tourist rush, he added.

There is consistent increase in output as old pumps have been replaced with high efficiency pumps and old filtration system has been changed with V-wire technology for rapid filtration.

Gumma scheme had a shutdown for scour pipe installation yesterday and more water was available. Ashwani khad scheme with installed capacity of 10.80 MLD was shut down due to contamination of water resulting in jaundice outbreak in 2017. The sources of water of Ashwani Khud are being tapped at the source through three nullahs namely Koti, Bean and Brandi to get 4.20 MLD of water.

Moreover, replacement of transmission pipe lines has reduced non-revenue water (NRW) to less than one per cent, said Kashyap adding that the replacement of electric panels and starters have provided uninterrupted and good power supply to pumps.Hourly monitoring of pumping of each scheme through WhatsApp has helped in improvement in pumping. Better coordination with Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) was also contributing factor.

No more woes?

Gumma 29.78 mld

Giri 21.25 mld

Churat 03.00 mld

Seyou 00.23 mld

Chaid 01.80 mld

Koti Brandi 04.34 mld

Total discharge 60.40mld