Satluj water supply for Shimla by December 2021: Jai Ram Thakur

SHIMLA: Under the long-term action plan for improvement of drinking water supply to Shimla town, a detailed project report (DPR) worth Rs 322.5 crore has been finalized for the augmentation of water supply scheme from the Satluj. Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur in Shimla on Tuesday said that this ambitious project would be completed by December 2021 and would ensure 24X7 supply here.
After completion of this augmentation project, Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited would work for the improvement of distribution network for which bid documents had been prepared by transaction advisor and it would be completed by March 2024.
He said that as short term measure, nine storage tanks along with feeder line were proposed to be constructed with a total capacity of 17 million liters per day (MLD). Out of these seven sites have been finalized and work would be completed by April 2019, by spending Rs 25.5 crore. He said that rising main and pumping machinery at Snowdown pump house would be replaced for reducing leakages and improving energy efficiency by March 2019.
Thakur said that augmentation of Gumma water supply scheme from the Satluj was being carried out with a total outlay of Rs 63 crore by the irrigation and public health department and would be completed by April 2019, and would improve water availability at Gumma water treatment plant during lean seasons.
He said that work had been awarded for the replacement of Giri rising main, which would be completed by March next year. The tenders had been invited for replacement of four pumps at Lift water supply scheme at Gumma to improve pumping efficiency. The work would be completed by February next year.
In order to provide clean drinking water, upgradation of water treatment plant (UV treatment and chlorination) would be completed by next March, he said, adding that this would ensure bacteria and virus free water to the people.
He has directed the officers to ensure plug of leakages from main pipe lines as well as distribution lines so that water losses could be avoided. Irrigation and public health minister Mahender Singh Thakur said that effort of the state government was to be well prepared in advance so that people of the town did no face water crisis in future. He said that 25 water ATMs would be installed in different parts of Shimla to facilitate the general public as well as the tourists visiting the town.