Protests get shriller as residents of Shimla vent ire, clash with police
SHIMLA: Furious at a long spell of acute water shortage, residents of Shimla staged protests and blocked several roads including highways on Tuesday and clashed with the police even as the government said the lack of snowfall last winter has led to the current water scarcity.
Shimla has been reeling under its worst water shortage for the last ten days. On Tuesday, the town received only 18 million litres of water against a requirement of 45 million litres per day (MLD). The shortage has forced people to buy water at exorbitant prices from private water suppliers.
About 200 odd residents of Dingle estate locality staged a protest and blocked traffic at the junction of the Shimla-kalka Highway and another road leading to Mandi. Residents alleged that there was no water in the area for the eighth straight day.
“There was no water available for the eighth day,” said Sanjeev Kumar resident of Dingle estate.another group of 150 residents carrying empty buckets staged a protest and blocked the Shimla- Kalka national highway.
The blockade was only lifted after police intervention. Residents also castigated the local councillor and alleged that the Bjp-ruled Municipal Corporation was doing little to ease situation in Shimla. After the blockade was lifted, people again blocked the traffic in chotta Shimla, near Himachal Pradesh secretariat.
Activists of the Communist party of India (Marxist) also staged a protest at the main square near Deputy Commissioners Office.
Protestors carrying empty water buckets stormed the offices of the Deputy Mayor, Mayor and Municipal Commissioner and scuffled with the police.
Police tried to stop the protestors from entering the office of Deputy Mayor Rajkesh Sharma.
Former Mayor Sanjay Chauhan and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Balbir Prashar along with CITU leader Vijender Mehra were allegedly manhandled by police.
“It’s unfortunate that when people of town are facing hardship s due to scarcity of water, the mayor is away on an official trip to China. Government and Bjpruled municipal corporation has failed to provide adequate supply of water to the people of Shimla,” Chauhan said.
Mayor Kusum Sadret left for China two days ago on a week’s visit.citu Secretary Balbir Prashar accused police of manhandling protesters including women activists of the CPI (M).
The protestors later took out a procession from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office till Naaz square on Mall Road.
Residents of Bioleauganj areas also staged a sit in protest at the main market.under fire from the capitals citizens, the State government took refuge under climate change
“Scanty rainfall during last six months and almost no snowfall during winter in Shimla Catchment areas have aggravated the situation” said the government spokesman.
He said that as compared to 1003.99 MLD water received by the municipal corporation in 2016 during month of May and 1104.78 MLD water received in 2017 during the month, it has received only 810.17 MLD water during the current month so far.