Sunil Chadha
Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla is in the grip of a severe water crisis, with several localities going without water for the past four-five days and even a week despite being in the middle of the monsoon season. Heavy rainfall has disrupted major water supply projects feeding the city, leaving residents reeling under acute scarcity.
Water supply lines from Chaba, Giri and Gumma projects, which are Shimla’s primary sources of drinking water, have been heavily damaged due to flooding and silt accumulation in the intake points. Officials confirm that pumping stations in Chaba have submerged, while pumps in the Naoti stream under the Gumma scheme have also stopped functioning due to high sediment levels.
“Continuous rain in the hills is preventing desilting operations. Until the weather improves, lifting water remains nearly impossible,” said a senior official at Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Ltd. (SJPNL), the agency responsible for the city’s water supply.
Only half of required water supplied over last 24 hours
Shimla requires 40 MLD (million litres per day) to meet its daily water demand. However, only 20 MLD could be supplied over the last 24 hours. On Thursday (August 14, 2025), there was no water supply at all, while Friday saw just 6 MLD being pumped into the system. There was some supply on Saturday too.
Officials claim that pipeline repairs are underway and efforts are being made on a war footing to restore normalcy. “Some pipelines were damaged and sludge filled up the pumping stations. We are working round the clock to clear the silt and restart the systems,” said the official. He urged the public to use water judiciously until full supply is restored, which may take another two to three days depending on weather conditions.
Anger over unequal distribution
The crisis has also sparked allegations of bias in water distribution, with many residents complaining that VVIP areas, including Chhota Shimla, Jakhu and the Mall Road vicinity where most of the politicians and IAS officers reside, are receiving water while ordinary localities remain dry.
“We haven’t had a drop of water in five days, but areas around government offices and bungalows seem to have uninterrupted supply,” said a resident of Dhalli, expressing frustration over the uneven management of limited water resources. In response, officials have assured that distribution is being managed based on technical feasibility and storage availability, not favouritism. With more rain forecast until August 22, the administration fears that repairs might take longer than expected.
