WB gives Rs 300cr for Shimla water supply scheme

Shimla: The World Bank (WB) has given its nod to release first installment of Rs 292 crore towards the implementation of project to provide round-the-clock water supply to Shimla. In a meeting on Monday, held under the chairmanship of director of the Centre’s department of economic affairs, WB approved development policy loan (DPL) to the tune of Rs 292 crore, out of total loan amount of Rs 986 crore, to be released in three DPLs to address the water-related issues.
This is first of WB’s policy related project in water sector, wherein the Himachal Pradesh government has undertaken reforms in institutional autonomy, tariff, water connections, energy efficiency and customer accountability prior actions to trigger first installment of DPL. On the successfully completing all the prior action agreed with the Bank, state government has approached the department of economic affairs, Government of India, to negotiate the first installment.
The procurement process for the bulk water project will be initiated and completed as per the timelines agreed with World Bank, they added. It is estimated that Shimla by 2050 would require 107 million liters per day (MLD) water while at present it needs only 40 MLD water. As already sever water crisis is being witnessed in the hill town, the state government has prepared this ambitious externally funded project to draw water from Satluj river to meet the future needs.
Under the long-term action plan for improvement of drinking water supply to Shimla town, a detailed project report (DPR) has been finalized for the augmentation of water supply scheme from Satluj river.
Sources said that from this proposed scheme, water would be lifted from Satluj at Shakrodi near Sunni in Shimla district and daily 70 MLD water would be supplied tot the town. Once the scheme was completed, the government intended to provide round the clock water to residents for which distribution pipes too would be changed.