Water relief in sight for Shimla’s Sunni: Rs 25-crore project to be ready in a month, says Vikramaditya Singh

Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Tuesday said work on a Rs 25-crore project to address the water crisis in Shimla’s Sunni region is progressing at a war footing and will be completed within a month.

While addressing a gathering in Sunni, the minister said once completed, the project will ensure a proper drinking water supply to the people of the region.

He also assured the people that all vacant posts at Civil Hospital, Sunni, will be filled at the earliest, for which efforts are being made by the government. He said he regularly discusses the matter with the Health and Family Welfare Minister to ensure that people here get better healthcare facilities.

He further said in-principle approval for establishing a critical care unit (CCU) in Sunni has already been granted, but budget approval is still awaited. “The matter will be taken up with the Union Health Minister so that Rs 25 crore can be released at the earliest for the construction of its building,” he said.

He also informed that several development works are underway in Sunni, which include the installation of interlocking tiles and solar lights, as well as the construction of drains in the market area.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Shimla, Anupam Kashyap, who chaired a special meeting, said desilting work in the Sutlej River will commence soon, providing relief from the rising water levels in the area.

During the meeting, NTPC submitted the bathymetry and siltation report for the Koldam Hydro Power Station to Kashyap, who said Koldam management was instructed to conduct a bathymetry and siltation survey using sonar technology due to the increasing silt in the Sutlej River in the Sunni area.

“Bathymetry studies involve the depth and topography of the underwater surface, which, in simple terms, can be called underwater mapping or seafloor surveying. This technique uses instruments like sonar, echo sounder, and LiDAR to map the bottom of rivers, lakes, and oceans. The survey was conducted by a team of IIT, Roorkee, by using sonar. Based on silt levels, the area has been divided into three zones, viz. Tattapani as zone 1, Sunni as zone 2, and Chaba as zone 3,” said Kashyap.

He said a change in silt accumulation was observed from 2014 to 2023. “Silt accumulation significantly rose in Zone 3 in 2022 and 2023. This has occurred due to road construction, project work, and flooding, etc. “The report has revealed that silt has accumulated in the reservoir; however, the accumulation is within the reservoir’s capacity,” he added.

The DC said experts have suggested desilting to reduce silt, for which the administration is developing a comprehensive plan to ensure that the silt accumulating in the affected areas is desilted as per regulations.

“This will prevent water levels from rising and the affected areas from being threatened during the monsoon season,” he said.

Kashyap said the DFO will conduct a detailed study of the regulations, including FCA permissions, regarding desilting. “After studying all the regulations, the local administration will develop an SOP to start the process for which the Koldam management has assured all possible assistance,” said the DC.