Steps taken to ease water woes of Shimla: Mayor

The water shortage in the capital city would ease marginally as 2,000 mts long leaking pipes of the Giri Lift water supply scheme have been replaced and tested successfully, the Mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) said today.
"Three pumps at stage I and two pumps at stage II have been made operational, and additional 5 MLD of water would be available from tomorrow, thus increasing the total availability of water in the city to 38 MLD against the demand of 45 MLD," Sanjay Chauhan, Mayor, SMC said.
The Corporation has appointed nodal officers to monitor the situation and the water supply data is being shared with councilors.

The SMC Commissioner had been visiting the Giri project for completion of work without delay, sources in the SMC said.
The SMC had taken over the Giri water supply scheme in July 2016 and decided to replace about 2,000 mts of damaged pipelines at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore and the work was completed yesterday.
The Shimla water supply scheme was affected after the supply of 7 to 8 MLD water from Ashwani Khud scheme was stopped in the wake of an outbreak of jaundice, and no alternate source of water was arranged.

The Shimla Municipal Corporation has now appointed nodal officers for regular and equitable supply of water and information is being shared with municipal councillors.

"The water is being supplied on alternate days and efforts are on to take other measures like plugging the leakages to augment the water supply, but a lasting solution would be possible only after the Koldam water supply scheme is executed," Chauhan said.
"The scheme to be funded by the World Bank would provide 65 MLD of water," the Mayor added.