Once implemented residents would not have to heat snow to secure water
Tech already in use in Leh-Ladakh
Chamba: Come winter, residents of villages situated in snow-bound areas face a typical problem. To get water they have to heat snow. However, residents of villages in two panchayats of the tribal area of Himachal’s Bharmaur region in Chamba districts would not have to undertake this arduous task during winters when water pipelines freeze.
The Himachal government has plans to spend Rs 10.15 crore on anti-freezing technology for the water supply schemes in Pulan and Kugti villages in Bharmaur on the lines of what was done in Leh-Ladakh.
Nearly 4200 residents of these two villages would not be forced to heat snow to arrange for drinking water as well as for other uses during the times when plummeting mercury leads to frozen water pipelines.
Jal Shakti department superintending engineer Rajesh Mongra informed that attempts are being made to ensure that before winter this year the residents of these two villages are provided water pipelines that shall not freeze.
According to Mongra, the plan entails the setting up of a water tank each in the two villages. The tanks will be made of zinc-aluminum mix metal, and fresh pipelines over a 10 km area will be laid underground. The pipes supplying water to homes would be attached to a heating system to ensure that even when the temperature is below zero the water will not freeze.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu laid the foundation stone for this scheme during his visit to Chamba district on March 12.
Water supply has been a problem for two or three months in winter for the people living in high-altitude areas. The pilot project in Kugti and Pulan village would be extended to other similar villages. Tenders have been invited by the department for the tanks and materials required for the project in these two villages.
