Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said that under the long-term action plan for improvement of drinking water supply to Shimla town, a detailed project report (DPR) amounting to Rs 322.5 crores has been finalized for augmentation of water supply scheme from Satluj river.
Thakur presided over a meeting to review short-term and long-term strategy for improving water supply to Shimla town, here.
The Chief Minister said that this ambitious project would be completed by December, 2021 and would ensure 24 hours water supply to Shimla town.
After completion of this augmentation project, Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Ltd. would work for improvement of distribution network for which bid documents had been prepared by Transaction Advisor and it would be completed by March 2024, he said.
Thakur said that as short term measure, nine storage tanks along-with feeder line were proposed to be constructed with a total capacity of 17 MLD. Out of these, seven sites have been finalized and work would be completed by April 2019 by spending Rs 25.50 crore.
He said that rising main and pumping machinery at Snowdown pump house would be replaced for reducing leakages and improving energy efficiency by March 2019.
Thakur further said that augmentation of Gumma water supply scheme from Sutlej river was being carried out with a total outlay of Rs 63 crore by Irrigation and Public Health department and would be completed by April 2019 and would improve water availability at Gumma water treatment plant during lean seasons.
The work had been awarded for replacement of Giri rising main which would be completed by March next year by spending Rs 6.80 crore. The tenders had been invited for replacement of four pumps at lift water supply scheme Gumma to improve pumping efficiency. The work would be completed by February next year by incurring an expenditure of rupees three crore, he added.
In order to provide quality drinking water to the consumers upgradation of water treatment plant (UV treatment and chlorination) would be completed by next March, said the Chief Minister adding that this would ensure bacteria and virus free water to the people.
He also directed the officers to ensure plug of leakages from main pipe lines as well as distribution lines so that water losses could be avoided.
Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur said that the endeavour of the State Government is to be well prepared in advance so that people of the town do not face water crisis in the future.
He said that 25 water ATMs would be installed in different parts of Shimla to facilitate the general public as well as the tourists visiting the town.
Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry, Additional Chief Secretary-cum- Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shrikant Baldi among other senior officers were also present during the meeting.
