Himachal asks Centre to quicken approval for water supply project

The World Bankaided project will help bring water from Kol Dam; state government was asked to prepare tenders by June 16

NEWDELHI: The Himachal Pradesh government has written to the department of economic affairs asking it to fast-track the process of approval for a World Bankaided project that will help bring water from Kol Dam in Bilaspur district to Shimla, which is currently battling a water crisis.

The project has been touted as a long-term solution for Shimla’s water crisis and is likely to bring 10 to 15 million litres per day (MLD )of water to the city.

The World Bank would provide around ₹770 crore in three instalments for the implementation of the project. The international financial institution had earlier asked the state government to prepare tenders for the project by June 16. The state is also likely to appoint a consultant for the same.

According to officials in the ministry of water resources, Shimla needs to change the entire water distribution system to save wastage of water.

The tourist destination faced severe water crisis last week as it received 60% less water daily than its requirement. The crisis is likely to hit Himachal’s tourism sector which comprises of 7.2% of the state’s GDP.

According to a Bengalurubased organisation Climate Trends, the reservoir levels in Himachal Pradesh were 56 % below normal for this time of the year.

The central water commission has maintained that there is a 10% reduction in levels of water reservoirs across the country.

According to a statement by Climate Trends, in states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, reservoir levels were less than 50% of their usual levels, while the levels in Punjab, Karnataka and Gujarat were about 40 percent below normal.