SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today directed the Irrigation and Public Health Department to restore supply of water from Ashwani Khud at the earliest so as to ensure that there was no shortage in Shimla town during the summer.
Supply from Ashwani Khud was stopped on January 3, following an outbreak of jaundice in Shimla due to contamination of water.
Presiding over a high-level meeting, Singh said immediate steps should be taken to check pollution of water in nullah and rivulets in the upstream of Ashwani Khud.
Habitations upstream Ashwani Khud, which lack proper sewerage and drainage system, should be linked with one main sewerage pipe to be drained for treatment so that the water of the Ashwani Khud did not get polluted, he said.
He said to meet the drinking water needs of the people of Shimla town, all local sources should be restored after proper treatment.
Ashwani Khud Water Supply Scheme was providing 4.5 to 5 million litres of water (MLD) every day and in case the supply was not restored, the people in the state capital would face acute water shortage during the summer when tourist footfall is huge.
Singh was informed by officials that gaseous chlorination dozers were being installed in tanks in Craignano, Bhakelti and Dhalli and it would be completed by April 15.
These dozers are more effective for chlorinating water and making it safe for drinking.
The Chief Minister also directed the Irrigation and Public Health Department and Shimla Municipal Corporation to ensure equitable water supply and fix a lower minimum period for distribution of water.
The Chief Minister also directed for proper operation and maintenance of sewerage treatment plants and installation of
automatic discharge metres at the main pipe line at various sites by end of this month.
I&PH Department Secretary Anuradha Thakur said that day-to-day monitoring was being done to complete the work on Koti Brandi and Been nullahas so that immediate relief could be given to the people.
She said at present there was a shortfall of about 4 to 5 MLD water and on average 39 MLD of water was being pumped out from Guma, Giri and Ashwani Khud to cater to Shimla town.
She said work on lifting waters from Kol Dam Water Supply Scheme would be started soon.