Public memory, they say is short, and the public servants memory is shorter still, that’s why public suffers year after year after year. Shimla is a famous hill station and Capital of Himachal Pradhesh. For so many years this town is reeling under the shortage of drinking water especially during the summer months. Summers are of short duration here two at the most three months, but these months leave the towns folk high and dry quiet literally. Every year and in every election politicians of all hues and shades promise moon to the people, that is an hour of water supply daily, and the gullible hill people believe them. In every summer, they realize political promises are made to be broken.

The water supply scheme being operated was laid down by the British when the town was established more than a century back. Over the course of time, the machines have became obsolete, pipelines got corroded and started leaking at every nook and corner, the population had exploded and there is many fold increase in the number of tourist visiting this scenic place. All this has resulted in quantum jump in demand whereas there has been little to negligible increase in the supply. The peak demand has reached 45 ML daily and 5 ML daily is required extra for the tourists during the season and IPH Department supplies only 26 ML daily. The political fraternity hardly loose sleep over the issue as VIP areas are always kept well stocked, even at the cost of exchequer and general public.

The water shortage had plagued this township since time immemorial. Earlier, it use to be relegated to the couple of peak summer months, now it has become a whole year phenomenon. In summer, as authorities explain, there is less water in Ashwani Khad, the chief source of water, so there is low supply. In winter the supply lines freeze so there is disruption in supply and during monsoon the silt gets stuck in water pumps that are used to lift water, hence irregular supply. So there are any numbers of reasons, except for their incompetence, put forth by officials, to not to supply water regularly even for couple of hours.

New fantastic ideas are launched that never take off and some semblance of work being done is made every year. Congress regime had launched a very ambitious project, which promised to quench the thirst of city for next 100 years to come. It entailed tapping the water of Pabbar River. The water was to be brought in two giant pipelines all the way from Rohru. As Rohru happen to be at higher altitude, it was argued, that no pumping would be required. However, the pre feasibility study grounded the project; the terrain was difficult, long and entailed felling of lots of trees. The present government promised water from Giri Ganga. The water was supposed to reach the town and start functioning before 15th April, then ten more days were sought, then it was beginning of May, now it is supposed to start on 10th May, 2008 and official inauguration will be on 27th May, 2008 after the election process is over in Hamirpur constituency. Public is waiting, with bated breath for miracle to happen.

The major source of water for the town is Ashwani Khad. The water is lifted by two very old, heaving and puffing pumps. This is then supplied through old pipelines laid during the British Raj, they leak more water than they transport. Even if these pipes are replaced, in phased manner, then lots of water could be saved. If the aged pumps are replaced then regular disruptions due to frequent breakdowns and choking could be avoided.

Earlier water crisis plagued Shimla and few major cities only, now for last couple of years, it has become a major problem in all towns and cities even villages are no more immune. Ecological disruptions are a major contributing factor towards this water crisis. Utter neglect of nature, loss of green cover, global increase in temperature has resulted in low and erratic rain and snowfalls. Further unplanned development, haphazard, unplanned illegal constructions have further led to choking of small streams and nullahs which had been contributing to big rivers and ground water levels. On the way they had quenched many thirsts. If man has to co exist with nature then these little sentinels of nature has to taken care of, the bigger ones will take care of themselves. With the plethora of hydro electric projects, the water and other ecological problems are bound to increase.