Shimla, Aug 8 (UNI) The daily water supply to Shimla has been decreased by 12 million liters per day due to a sudden rise in the turbidity of the Giri River, which supplies water to the town.
According to a spokesperson from Shimla Jalparbhandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL), the turbidity of the Giri River surged to 11,300 NTU on Thursday, up from 9,200 NTU on Wednesday.
The increase in turbidity, caused by silt and floodwaters carrying large logs, led to a suspension of the water supply from the Giri River.
The Giri Water Supply Scheme, which normally provides around 18 million liters per day (MLD) of water, saw a drastic reduction to 5.79 MLD on Thursday, down from 17.79 MLD on Wednesday before the heavy monsoon rains.
SJPNL spokesperson Sahil Sharma informed UNI that the town received a total of 36.14 MLD of water from all sources on Thursday, which is about 12 MLD below the usual supply.
The breakdown of water supply from various sources on August 8 is as follows:
- Gumma: 21.03 MLD
- Giri: 5.79
- Churot: 3.51
- Seog: 0.72
- Chairh: 1.17
- Koti Brandy: 3.92
In comparison, on August 7, Shimla received:
- Gumma: 16.91 MLD
- Giri: 17.60
- Churot: 3.44
- Seog: 0.55
- Chairh: 1.44
- Koti Brandy: 4.19
This brought the total to 44.13 MLD.
A week ago, in the town, the water supply had already been reduced to 14.25 MLD due to blockages caused by heavy logs and increased turbidity. At the New Gumma Head weir, a wooden log had obstructed the raw water gravity line, but it has since been removed, allowing the resumption of water supply from this source.
Residents of Shimla are advised to use drinking water carefully due to the reduced supply and potential contamination risks. It is recommended that water be boiled before consumption during this rainy season to ensure safety.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority, about 15 water supply schemes were affected by the rainfall until Wednesday.
UNI ML ARN SY