Monsoon leaves Shimla parched

SHIMLA: In Shimla, monsoon clouds rained more trouble than joy. With high silt level in Giri and Ashwani Khad making pumping impossible, there was shortage of water in the tourist town. Shimla receives water supply every third day. Since the monsoon is just beginning, people fear more shortage in the days to come.
Worst affected areas are Chhotta Shimla, US Club, Vikas Nagar, Chaura Maidan, Lakkar Bazaar, Bharari, Boileauganj, Chakkar and Summer Hill.People are using rainwater to meet urgent needs. In hotels, water is being supplied through tankers, sources said.
Chief engineer, irrigation and public health department KC Dhiman said due to heavy rainfall, debris coming from Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti road construction site is flowing into the Giri river, increasing silt level and turbidity of water. "Our machines have the capacity for turbidity up to 500 to 600 PPM. But water has turbidity of around 2,000-3,000 PPM. This is causing water shortage in Shimla," he said.
According to irrigation and public health (IPH) department officials, the demand for 42 MLD per day cannot be met if water is not pumped out, but that is possible only when silt level settles to normal at pumping stations. Heavy silt will take at least two days to settle but the probability of rainfall in the next 24 hours will make it difficult again.
Shimla MC commissioner Amarjeet Singh said water is being provided to areas facing shortage through tankers. "We will see what best can be done to deal with the situation. The rest depends on proper pumping of water," he said.
Municipal engineer, Shimla MC, Vijay Gupta said residents are receiving water supply. "It is not that people do not have water. On every third day we are supplying them water and the shortage will be tackled as soon as pumps start functioning well," he said.
While civic officials are downplaying the issue, residents are fuming. "Water shortage has worsened in the last few days. Whatever is being supplied is not sufficient to fulfill basic household needs," said Bhoop Singh Thakur, a resident of Chakkar.