Severe drinking water crisis hits Shimla, Solan districts; almost zero supply from 350 schemes

A severe drinking water crisis has gripped Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla and Solan districts where thousands of residents are receiving water only once every five to seven days.

With temperatures soaring, the Jal Shakti Department has requested permission from the Deputy Commissioners of both districts to supply water through tankers. The department has prepared a comprehensive report highlighting the dire state of drinking water projects.

Out of 10,067 projects statewide, many are facing drastically reduced water levels. The report said that 350 projects are nearing complete depletion, with 165 projects experiencing an 80 per cent reduction in water levels. Alarmingly, this includes 102 projects in Shimla and Solan where even the department’s tanks are unable to fill.

Rural areas are the most affected, with Kasauli and Dharampur in Solan experiencing severe drought conditions. In Shimla, the Bhattakuffar area is facing near-total suspension of drinking water schemes.

The crisis has increased in view of the fact that many Jal Shakti Department officials are currently occupied with election duties, hampering efforts to source alternative water supplies.
Despite increased efforts to pump water from various projects, the relentless heat has caused significant drops in water levels.

With 350 projects across the state affected by drought, the department has urged the administration to expedite water supply through tankers in several areas to mitigate the crisis. As the situation intensifies, residents are calling for immediate and effective measures to ensure a consistent and reliable water supply.