Shimla seeks World Bank project for water supply

Shimla civic body councillors on Friday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and sought his intervention in getting a project, which would argument water supply in the city, sanctioned by the World Bank.

The proposal for the Rs 720 crore Greater Shimla Water and Sewerage Circle project has been submitted to the World Bank by the Shimla Municipal Corporation.

The delegation of newly-elected councillors was led by Member of Parliament Virender Kashyap, an official statement said.

Kashyap apprised Modi about Shimla's acute portable water shortage and problems of sewerage due to rise in population and footfall of tourists every year.

The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for declaring Shimla a Smart City, which was done soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party won Shimla corporation elections.

Later, the delegation met Union Urban Development Minister Narender Tomar and discussed problems relating to urban developments in the city and sought liberal financial assistance to sort out various issues relating to social and economic development of the region.

Planned for a maximum population of 16,000, Shimla is home to 170,000 people as per the 2011 census and generates 30.09 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. It faces water scarcity in both summer and winter months.

Official sources said the normal demand is 42 million litres per day, but the availability ranged from 35 million to 37 million litres per day.

--IANS

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