Sutlej water likely to flow into Shimla before winter

Shimla is likely to start receiving water supply from the World Bank-aided Bulk Water Supply project from the Sutlej before the onset of this winter. The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) has provided the required power infrastructure to Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL) and the SJPNL is likely to start testing in a week’s time.

“We will initiate the process of testing our electro-mechanical components in about a week’s time. The testing may take two to three months as it’s a big scheme with 23km long rising main. Once the testing is successfully finished, we will start pumping the water,” said Rajesh Kashyap, GM, SJPNL.

The availability of power infrastructure was one of the major obstacles in the way of making the scheme operational. The SJPNL requires 66kv transmission line to operate the scheme smoothly, and SJPNL has already deposited the money with the electricity board. As providing a 66kv power line will take some time, the electricity board has handed over a 22kv transmission line to the water company to make the scheme operational until the 66kv power infrastructure could be made available.

According to HPSEBL spokesperson Anurag Prashar, the 22/6.6 KV Chaba-Shakrodi power transmission line has been provided to the SJPNL a few days back for the trial of this scheme. “Now the power supply is available with the SJPNL to start testing and other works related to the scheme,” he said.

Currently, Shimla gets around 42-45 MLD water from the existing water supply schemes, with Gumma Water Supply Scheme and Giri Water Supply Scheme providing around 90 per cent of the total supply. The SJPNL struggles to meet the city’s demand for water, particularly in summers when the tourist football rises. The Shimla residents will not face water shortage once Sutlej Bulk Water Supply Scheme becomes operational.