Shimla residents can expect an end to their drinking water troubles soon. The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has set a target to ensure 24×7 water supply in the city by November.
Shimla Mayor Surinder Chauhan has directed officials of the Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL) to take the necessary steps to make this happen.
Current Water Supply Problem in Shimla
Right now, drinking water is supplied on alternate days in Shimla. This means residents only get water every other day, which creates daily hardship for families.
The situation is worse in some areas. Several wards, including Kachi Ghati, receive water only after a gap of four to five days. This long gap causes considerable inconvenience to residents who struggle to store enough water for their daily needs.
Plan to Ensure 40 MLD Water Supply
SJPNL officials said efforts are already underway to increase the drinking water supply to the city. The goal is to ensure at least 40 MLD (million litres per day) of water reaches Shimla so that residents do not face shortages.
The move is aimed at improving the reliability of water supply across the city. It directly addresses the long-standing issue of uneven and unreliable water distribution that has troubled Shimla for years.
Our Take: A Welcome Step That Needs Execution
To put it plainly, this is good news for Shimla residents who have put up with water shortages for far too long. Moving from alternate-day supply to round-the-clock water is a major improvement in civic service.
But the real test lies in execution. Setting a November target is one thing — meeting it requires proper planning, timely repairs, and consistent monitoring. The fact that some wards like Kachi Ghati go four to five days without water shows how uneven the current system is.
We believe the SMC and SJPNL must prioritise the worst-affected areas first. A 24×7 supply means nothing if it does not reach every ward equally. Residents will be watching closely to see if the November deadline is met — and whether the water actually flows every single day.