Himachal HC directs state to file affidavit to solve water crisis in Shimla

Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the state government and Shimla Municipal Corporation to file an affidavit, stating what arrangements and mechanism are being adopted by the authorities to solve the issue of water crisis in the city.

On June 8, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had directed officials to fast-track water supply projects so that Shimla does not face shortages again next summer.

Thakur reviewed the water situation in the state capital and had asked officials to complete the ongoing projects to increase water supply within a year.

The chief minister had earlier cited decline in rain and snowfall in 2018 as the reason for acute water shortage in Shimla.

Rampant water shortage has also drastically hampered tourism in Shimla and stirred protests against the state government for failing to curtail the situation.

Officials have cited rising mercury and drying up of natural water resources as the main cause of the crisis.