Upset over erratic water supply, Theog residents block highway

Shimla, July 1

Residents of seven panchayats in and around Theog have demanded water supply from Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL).

Nigam given 20 days to resolve issue

SJPNL draws water from our sources for Shimla, its pipes run through our fields and tanks are constructed on our land. Yet, we are deprived of water. We have given the SJPNL 20 days to resolve the issue. — Kuldeep Tanwar, president, Himachal Kisan Sabha

Barely enough water for Shimla

SJPNL was constituted to provide water to Shimla. We are barely getting enough water to meet the requirement. Even now, we are supplying water on alternate days. I will speak to the higher authorities to see what can be done. — Pankaj Lalit, Managing Director, SJPNL

“The SJPNL draws water from our sources for Shimla, its pipes run through our fields and tanks are constructed on our land. Yet, we are deprived of water,” said Kuldeep Tanwar, president, Himachal Kisan Sabha.

“We have given the SJPNL 20 days to figure out how it will provide water to the residents in these panchayats,” Tanwar added.

SJPNL Managing Director Pankaj Lalit said he would speak to the higher authorities to see what could be done to resolve the issue.

Tanwar claimed that the SJPNL had made a commitment to provide 2.5 lakh litres of water in 2020 to these areas. “Tenders were given and work was allotted, but people did not get water,” he said.

Upset over the erratic supply of water by the Jal Shakti Vibhag, the locals, led by CPM MLA Rakesh Singha, blocked the national highway near Fagu and for two hours today and protested.

The protesters, a majority of them were women, claimed that water was supplied in their areas only once in 10 or more days.

“When we finally get water supply, it is hardly 200 litres,” said a protester.

The protesters said they were fed up with the behaviour of the Jal Shakti Vibhag and wanted the SJPNL to supply water to them.

“When the SJPNL can illegally give connection to a hotelier from the Giri Water Scheme, why can’t it give water to locals?” Singha said.

Meanwhile, Lalit said SJPNL was constituted to provide water to Shimla residents. “We are barely getting enough water to meet the requirement of Shimla. Even now, we are supplying water on alternate days,” he said.

The protesters, however, are adamant on their demand. “You can’t draw resources from neighbouring areas of the city and leave locals high and dry. It used to happen during the British rule as well. We can’t function with the same mentality,” Tanwar said, adding that residents living on the fringes of natural resources had the first right on those resources.