Taps run dry, roads flooded

As the Himachal Pradesh government gears up to introduce ultraviolet (UV)-based purification systems in contaminated water supply schemes, the situation on the ground in the Kasauli region paints a dismal picture. Here, even the most basic purification using potassium alum (PA) — a widely used flocculent in water treatment — has come to a standstill.

The relentless monsoon rains lashing Solan district have turned water sources muddy and unfit for consumption. But instead of tackling the turbidity, the Jal Shakti Department (JSD) in Kasauli has opted to suspend water supply altogether, leaving villagers high and dry for days. Residents from areas such as Sanawar, Garkhal, Dharampur and Shiller are now depending on bottled water and private tankers to meet their daily needs.

Potassium alum, which helps in settling suspended particles and facilitating water filtration, is reportedly unavailable in the division. According to a field official of the JSD, the delay is due to a shift in administrative jurisdiction. Earlier, alum was procured from the Solan division, but since Kasauli was brought under the new Dharampur division in 2024, procurement has stalled. The officer admitted that the purchase was “in process,” but gave no clear timeline for availability.

The carelessness in basic planning has frustrated locals, especially since turbidity during monsoon is a known and recurring issue. Water is now being supplied just once or twice a week — a routine that’s becoming unbearable during the rainy season, when even the roads are flooded but taps run dry.

When contacted, Sanjeev Soni, Superintending Engineer, Solan, acknowledged the crisis and assured that emergency supplies of alum would be dispatched from Solan. He also criticised the Dharampur division’s laxity in managing essential resources and failing to prepare in advance.

The crisis becomes more troubling in light of the fact that water contamination isn’t new to the region. In 2023, 22 sites across Solan district were identified for the installation of UV-based purification systems — including schemes in Arki, Baddi, Nalagarh and Solan. An allocation of Rs 6 crore was proposed for the project.

However, the list was recently trimmed to 13 sites, excluding schemes under the Dharampur division, even though areas like Kasauli and Parwanoo face regular sewage contamination.

Shockingly, despite repeated warnings by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) about contamination in Larah and Parwanoo water supply schemes, the Dharampur division has yet to take corrective action or seek UV purification upgrades.

For now, the residents of Kasauli remain at the mercy of bureaucratic apathy, hoping that the Jal Shakti Department wakes up before the crisis turns into a full-blown disaster.

Himachal Tribune