Shimla, June 8: While the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, has in its report cleared the water samples taken from one of Shimla’s key sources, Ashwani Khud, the Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to adopt ultra-violet radiation technology before the supply can be resumed in the crisis-hit state capital.
The Pune institute reports say the surface water from Ashwani Khud is fit for human consumption. Even the reports of samples tested at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) laboratory have declared it free from contamination.
“Some companies have made their presentations about the UV radiation procedure, which is used to ensure that water is free from contamination. We have decided to undertake a pilot project on Ashwani Khud before the supply is resumed as we are not willing to take any chances,” said Davesh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Public Health (IPH).
A Central Water Commission (CWC) team also visited Ashwani Khud to see the possibility of augmenting supply. The team has suggested two new borewell sites to help tide over the present scarcity.
The Central Water Commission team, which will submit its report to the Union Ministry of Water Resources, was also shown proposed sites for pumping of water from Kol Dam into Gumma station and some potential sites for setting up of check dams.
Ashwani Khud is a major source of water with a design capacity of 11 million litres per day. The supply has not been resumed after a jaundice outbreak two years ago, which led to over a dozen deaths. The state capital witnessed its worst-ever scarcity during the peak summer season this year.
The government had to face criticism for failing to plan for the scarcity in view of reduced rain and snow in the winter. It is now keen to expedite the World Bank-funded Kol Dam water supply scheme for Shimla.
The tourism industry has also taken a severe beating, though the situation has improved over the past few days.
Source Tribune India
