Water crisis deepens in Dharamsala

A severe potable water crisis has gripped the smart city of Dharamsala and the Tibetan settlement of McLeodganj after multiple water supply schemes were disrupted due to heavy rain, which lashed the area on Friday night, causing landslides and damaging pipelines.

A spokesman for the district administration confirmed on Saturday that the main supply line from the Naddi water treatment plant to Dharamsala was damaged following land subsidence, affecting several distribution networks. As a result, the water supply in the twin towns of Dharamsala and McLeodganj remained suspended on Saturday.

The Gajj Khadd scheme, one of the major sources for the city, has been non-functional for over a month. This week, the Naddi-Bhatehad and Bhagsunag schemes were also disrupted, cutting off the supply to large parts of the urban areas. Localities, including Kala Pul, Ramnagar, Sham Nagar and Kotwali Bazaar, are facing acute water shortages, with many residents forced to fetch water from borewells and natural sources. In Kala Pul, taps have remained dry for several days.

Former mayors and present councillors, Devinder Jaggi and Omkar Nehria, have urged the district administration to arrange tankers if the normal supply cannot be restored. Officials from the Jal Shakti Department maintained that heavy rains and overflowing ravines had damaged pipelines. Two main lines have been connected to the Naddi-Bhatehad scheme, and repair work on the Bhagsunag scheme is underway.

Despite Dharamsala’s “smart city” status, social worker Atul Bhardwaj alleged that the situation on the ground tells a different story. He accused the Jal Shakti Department of failing to provide timely alternatives, saying that the supply from tube wells and temporary sources is far below the demand of local residents. Officials assured that efforts are underway to fully restore the damaged schemes, but continuous rainfall is hampering restoration work.