No water tankers in VIP areas, HP high court tells civic body
SHIMLA : The HP high court on Tuesday directed municipal corporation not to supply water through tankers to any individuals in VIP areas including judges, ministers, bureaucrats, police officers and commercial establishments.
The court clarified that order does not include governor and chief minister. Court directed government to suspend construction activity for a week. It observed that decision on restoring construction activity could be taken by committee after considering the situation. Court directed chief secretary Vineet and MC commissioner to approach the army authorities for diverting water used for watering Golf Course at Annandale, situated within the municipal limits of Shimla.
It further directed municipal authorities to ask the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies for water as it has huge water storage tanks for meeting drinking water needs. Court directed MC to suspend car washing operations for a week. Municipal authorities informed court that town received 18.5 MLD water on Tuesday. "It stands clarified that there is a separate provision to meet emergent like situation and such stored water cannot be touched," court said in Tuesday's order. Court said the town has been divided into three zones and each zone will get water after the gap of two days.
It directed the corporation to make people aware about the timings of water distribution. Municipal commissioner Rohit Jamwal also informed the court about measures adopted by corporation to plug the leakages of 3.5 MLD water. Commissioner told the court that the MC has set up four control rooms in town.
Court directed district judge, who is a chairperson of district legal services authority, to depute four para legal volunteers in each control room. "These volunteers shall, by rotation, sit in the control rooms and help the officials," said the court emphasising upon measures to sensitise residents on water conservation.