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 residents to take to the roads that demand 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 about 2.20 lakh. Also with a visitor number of around 15,000 to 20,000 tourists during the high season, the problem has increased considerably.
The city receives water supply from 5 major water sources: Gumma, Giri, Ashwini Khan, Churta and Seog. The demand for water in Shimla is about 42 MLD (million liters per day) but the supply has dropped to 22 MLD.
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Hotels are facing cancellations as the water crisis enters its second week. High Court also ordered the municipal commissioner to stop the supply of water by tankers in VIP areas. Unfortunately, Shimla Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap has also decided to postpone the Shimla Summer Festival.
After this acute water crisis, here are some tips you can use to conserve water while traveling:
a) When bathing, avoid using bathtubs/showers and use buckets instead.
b) Conserve water when washing and redress clothes whenever possible.
c) Turn off the tap while brushing.
d) Check for leaks or drips when checking into a hotel. In this case, call the hotel staff immediately.
Let’s make a commitment to conserve water in our daily use. If we all do our part, hopefully there won’t be another city without water!
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