SHIMLA WATER WOES: CENTRE SEEKS REPORT
TOUGH MEASURES 120 policemen along with quick response teams deployed to tackle protesters
SHIMLA: Even as the capital town is grappling with worst ever water crisis, the Himachal Pradesh government has deployed additional police force to keep control over the agitated locals and others, who have been protesting against the state administration for failing to provide them drinking water supply for the ninth consecutive day.
The police have deputed four police reserves (one reserve comprises 30 police personnel) to tackle protesters in Shimla town, even as desperation for water is growing among the citizens.
The state government has also deployed quick response teams to deal with the protesters.
“People are staging protests in different parts. Adequate security arrangements have been made to tackle the situation,” said superintendent of police Omapati Jamwal, adding that policemen have also been deputed with the water tankers deployed for supplying water in different wards.
On Tuesday, the busy ShimlaChandigarh highway was blocked at two places by angry residents and also highway leading to Mandi to protest no supply of drinking water.
In order to meet the water requirement, the MC has deployed 18 tankers and 13 pickup vans in different areas. Shimla Town, that has been facing water scarcity for the past nine days, received 18 million litres of water from four sources Gumma, Giri, Chair and Churat against the required 45 million litres of water per day (MLD).
The civic body has been blaming scanty rain and snow in catchment areas for water shortage.
Infuriated over erratic water supply, women folks along with the others staged demonstrations near the Judicial Court Complex at Chakkar on Wednesday.
Protesting women snatched tools from the key man deputed for supplying water in the area.
“Why should our area be discriminated? We have not been supplied water for last nine days. It is injustice,” a protester said.
Protesters- led by former deputy mayor Harish Janartha, also staged demonstrations outside the deputy commissioner’s office and later, handed over a memorandum to him demanding restoration of water supply in the
parched areas.
“It is the duty of the civic body to provide adequate water supply to the residents in Shimla. One can imagine lethargic attitude of the corporation that instead of being with the residents in the hour of crisis, Shimla mayor is touring China,” said Janartha.