One of the most visited hill stations in India, Shimla is in the news for all the wrong reasons! The beautiful capital of Himachal Pradesh has reportedly run out of water forcing the residents to take to the roads demanding water for their basic needs.
Did you know? Shimla was originally designed for 25,000 people but now it is home to a population of around 2.20 lakh. Also, with a footfall of around 15,000 to 20,000 tourists during the peak season, the problem has risen considerably.
The city is getting water supply from 5 major water sources: Gumma, Giri, Ashwini Khan, Churta and Seog. The demand for water in Shimla is around 42 MLD (million litres per day) but the supply has fallen to 22 MLD.
Hotels are facing cancellations as the water crisis has entered the second week. High Court also ordered the Municipal Commissioner to stop the supply of water through tankers in VIP areas. Sadly, Deputy Commissioner of Shimla Amit Kashyap has also decided to postpone the Shimla Summer Festival.
Following this acute water crisis, here are few tips that you can use to save water while travelling:
a) While bathing, avoid using bathtubs/showers and use buckets instead.
b) Save water while doing laundry and re-wear clothes whenever possible.
c) Turn off the tap while brushing.
d) Check for dripping or leakage while checking in at a hotel. In such a case, report to the hotel staff immediately.
Let’s take a pledge to preserve water in our daily use. If we all do our part, hopefully there will not be another city without water!
