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THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | FRIDAY | 1 JUNE 2018 OPED 09

Water crisis in Shimla is avoidable

The installed capacity of Shimla water supply is 65 MLD while the demand is 45 MLD. Despite the higher installed
capacity, the city never gets more than 35 MLD because a lot of water leaks out during pumping and distribution.
SP Vasudeva plugged. The distribution of water has to be
Former Director, Ministry of rationalised, based on the population densi-
Water Resources ty and actual requirement. Although the
duality of water supply and distribution has

S
HIMLA, the capital of Himachal
Pradesh, was established by the
British around 1815 due to its pleas-
ant climate that was suitable to
them. It was declared as the summer capi-
tal by British India in 1864 and, thereafter, it
always occupied prime importance after
Independence. It is called 'Queen of Hills'
because of its greenery and scenic beauty
and attracts tourists from other parts of the
country and abroad. Therefore, adequate
funds have been spent on its infrastructure,
including catering to the water supply.
However, it is facing acute water crisis this
summer, wherein taps have gone dry on the
eighth consecutive day. This requires seri-
ous and analytical thinking for initiating
short- and long-term measurers to see that
such a situation does not recur.
The water supply for Shimla was planned
by the British in 1875 for about 16,000 peo-
ple. The population has increased 10 times
to around 1.70 lakh and in addition, on an
average, 20,000 tourists visit the city daily.
The first piped water supply scheme set
up in 1875 was of 4.5 million litres per day
(MLD) from Dhali forest catchment area. It
was subsequently augmented in 1914 and
1924 from Gumma, giving the city 12 MLD
of water. Other sources from Chairh, Ash-
wani khad, Giri and Churat were integrated
later on into the water supply system. The
water supply from Ashwani khad which
catered to one-fourth of the city's demand
was suspended two years ago after sewage
SCARCITY: Shimla residents take water from a natural source as the city faces shortage of drinking water. TRIBUNE PHOTO: AMIT KANWAR
contamination led to an outbreak of jaun-
dice due to construction of a sewage treat-
ment plant upstream at Malyana.
The overall installed capacity of city water
supply at present from all sources is 65
MLD while the demand is approximately 45
MLD. Despite the higher installed capacity,
the city never gets more than 35 MLD as
average throughout the year. The reason is
that most of the water leaks out during
pumping and distribution. In summers, the
water supply falls to 30 MLD.
This year, the situation has deteriorated
because of less snowfall and very low rain-
fall in April-May. This has led to most of the
local sources drying down and the supply
falling to 22 MLD. Further, such a hydrolog-
ical behaviour of low snow and less rainfall
has also led to low retention of water in the
catchment areas and other eco-systems.
The land use in the city has changed over
time, with the construction of buildings all
around that does not allow the water to per-
colate down in the natural drainage system.
This requires tapping of water which flows
in the cemented channels or turning it
towards water bodies, so that tapped water
is collected and put to use.
This critical situation has to be dealt with.
Immediate action on a war footing is
required so that water is supplied to various
areas through water tankers. It is learnt that
14 water tankers and eight pick-up vans
have been pressed into service by the Shim-
la Municipal Corporation (SMC). The state
government has committed that at least
one tanker every day would be made avail-
able to each ward till piped water supply
becomes normal. The abandoned hand
pumps need to be made operational for use,
but after testing the quality of their water.
These measures, if implemented with all
seriousness, can lead to the easing of the
water crisis that the city is facing at present.
As a mid-term measure to be accom-
plished before the next summer, the leak-
age of water from the treatment and distri-
bution systems has to be checked and
ended, the Greater Shimla Water Supply
and Sewerage circle must be strengthened
in such a way that it gives results.
Long-term measurers must take into
account as to how to cater to the increased
demand of water due to the rise in popula-
tion and tourists to the city. This necessi-
tates finding another perennial source of
water for the city's increased needs.
The state and SMC are working with the
World Bank for lifting Sutlej water from the
Kol Dam. The capacity of this scheme is
about 100 MLD. However, the pace of the
feasibility and preparation of this scheme
has not moved at the required pace. It is
hoped that the government would take it
forward with all seriousness it deserves, lest
we witness similar recurring water crisis.
In addition, appropriate practices of inte-
grated water resource management of con-
junctive use of surface and ground water
need to be put in place. With such measures
having back-up for meeting emergency
needs of water, the crisis that occurred this
year can be avoided for times to come.
There is also need of recycling the used
water so that it can be put to use where pos-
sible. The online monitoring of piped water
supply for which various models are avail-
able, especially from France, need to be
utilised for 24x7 computerised feedback.
Increased public awareness to conserve
water for its economic and equitable use
will go a long way in associating the public
in avoiding such a crisis.

Review of the officer cadre in the army

Col Mahesh Chadha (retd) years with a promise of a permanent com- Some important issues ing facilities created over long years of
mission made us not only compete with the Human nature what it is, such officers research and analysis, unless they are

A
S if the Ajay Vikram Singh Com-
mittee (AVSC) is not without its
snags, it has now become the rule
of thumb for the Indian Army to
resolve its problems — the first being the
promotion system widely known as the
cadre review and the latest is the change in
the ratio of permanent and short service
commissioned officers. While the cadre
review, on the one hand benefited a large
number of officers who by virtue of their
competence would have retired as Majors
or Lt Colonels risen to higher ranks, some
even becoming Generals, the upgradation
of the appointments crushed the charm
and elan of a Brigade Major (BM) at the
Brigade, of the Colonel General Staff (Col
OFFICERS NOW: The passing out GCs rejoice at the GS) at the Division and of Brigadiers at the
Academy. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VINOD PUNDIR (FILE) Corps and Command levels. The creation of
more vacancies caused managerial embar-
rassment when a desk which was the
The MoD seems to responsibility of one was now to be shared
by more, requiring a higher ranking moder-
have overlooked the ator or a coordinator to be dealt by the Com-
negative ramification of mander — the bane of advice — one point
vis-a-vis multi-point. It bloated the middle
the proposed reversal rung without much benefit to the Army.
of the ratio between The proposal and its drawbacks
permanent and short The MoD seems to have overlooked the
service commissioned negative ramification of the proposed
reversal of the ratio between permanent
officers from 4:1 to 1:1.1 and short service commissioned officers
from the present 4:1 to 1:1.1 and increase
and increase in their in service from 5-10 years to 10-14 years.
service from 5-10 years Having been a short service commis-
sioned officer myself, I can vouch for my
to 10-14 years. fraternity that commissioned only for five
regular officers but to outdo them at all lev-
els — the courses of instruction, in per-
forming regimental duties, manning pic-
quets on the borders, leading long range
patrols in inhospitable terrains, carrying
out anti-insurgency operations at their
height in the North-East against the Nagas
and Mizos and leading our subunits during
the 1971 and later war and operations. We
had also to face the SSB a second time to be
thought worthy of being a permanent com-
missioned officer, qualify the Defence Ser-
vices Staff College and Senior Command
course before being found fit to command
our unit. The whole life we were kept on
our toes so as to be saved of an ignominy to
be lower in any way than a permanent offi-
cer. Most of us participated in the 1971 war,
Sri Lanka operations, 1999 Kargil war, won
gallantry medals and achieved higher
ranks before hanging our boots with pride.
On the contrary, it is feared that by mak-
ing short service commission as lucrative as
it appears to be, a golden handshake would
make them crorepatis overnight and all oth-
er benefits would put them in a privileged
class of ex-serviceman better than a veteran
who would have spent 30 or more years as a
permanent officer, damaging his knees
climbing up and down the hills under rain-
ing enemy bullets. This would also create
heartburn amongst permanent commis-
sioned officers who do not get empanelled
for higher ranks and are made to rust at
unimportant appointments in the later
years of their career. It also negates the very
proposal of the women to be granted per-
manent commission in the near future.
with assured conditions of service are like-
ly to fall in one of the two categories; some
are likely to pass their time in the Army —
be non-performer, even to the extent of
being arrogant and indisciplined, be
mediocre, do not do well on courses of
instruction, even not passing the promo-
tion exams, become low medical category
to seek soft postings on one pretext or the
other, yet rising to the 'assured career pro-
gression' time scale rank of a Major or a Lt
Colonel and finally take one or two years
of study leave and think of better avenues
outside; it is this lot that would be a pain
for the Commanding Officer, and instead
of being at the cutting edge, would be pre-
ferred out of the unit or in the rear areas
during operations and war.
The second lot would be well meaning,
hard working, doing well on courses- some
even qualifying the Defence Services Staff
College and Senior Command course
deemed fit to command units and even
higher formations would incur a great loss
to the Army when they leave and every CO
and commander would miss them. The
management of such bright officers would
pose a problem for the Military Secretary
(MS) for either or not giving them deserv-
ing postings on staff, instructional and
command — at the cost of permanent offi-
cers, thus losing on their expertise for the
betterment of the Army.
Another important issue is the future of
the National Defence and the Indian Mili-
tary Academies, whose intake shall have
to be reduced, thereby rendering redun-
dant most of the infrastructure and train-
converted into Short Service Commis-
sioned Academies. History and traditions
would not only be at stake but also become
victim. The Army shall have to shelve its
proposal for the entry of women into the
NDA and IMA as well. The very charm of
the uniform amongst the youth of the
country will be subdued, for despite
greener pastures outside, some still prefer
to don the olive greens either as a family
tradition or for the love of the country.
Thus, the MoD should have taken these
aspects into account as well before making
the above recommendation to the Finance
Ministry showing only the financial bene-
fits on account of pension etc —which also
seems somewhat misconstrued due to the
golden handshake itself running into crores
every six months or one year and later ben-
efits given like an ex-serviceman.
The solution
Once the MoD has made up its mind, it is
difficult to make it change, especially
when in its reckoning it means savings
to the exchequer — may be a few crores
every year. But the question remains: is
it the services only that are a burden for
the country or other employees paid out
of defence budget or a number of chief
secretaries, financial commissioners and
DGPs? And what about the institutions
that would lose their prestige not only in
the eyes of the nation but also the world,
where conscription is compulsory, but
ranges between two and four years only?
In contrast, our proposal is for 10 and 14
years, with golden terminal benefits!

on this day... 100 years ago quick crossword su do ku forecast

YESTERDAY’S HARD SUNSET: FRIDAY 19:21 HRS
SOLUTION
SUNRISE: SATURDAY 05:20 HRS
Across
1 Scale, 8 Stand 4 5 8
Lahore, Saturday, June 1, 1918. pat, 9 Atone, 10
9 6
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy Rainy Foggy
Situated, 11 Chafe, CITY MAX MIN
Control over Paper. 12 Sew, 16 Creche,
A FEW days ago it was announced that the Government of India Chandigarh 39 28
was contemplating the assuming of control over the consumption
17 Ignore, 18 Tag,
23 Giddy, 24 3 1 6 New Delhi
PUNJAB
43 30
of paper in India. No facts are, however, available, and it is diffi- Calmness, 25
cult to say precisely what steps will be taken and what interests
will suffer by the proposed restrictive orders. The foreign trade
Soggy, 26
Thorough, 27 7 6 Amritsar
Bathinda
42
44
27
28
Reply. Jalandhar 42 27
statistics for April show that the import of paper showed a great
increase over that of 1917, and this makes it clear that in India, in Down
8 3 4 9 Ludhiana 41 28
spite of the 250 percent. increase in the price, paper is in great 2 Cut short, 3 Long Patiala 40 29
demand. Two new paper mills have been established within the
last 13 months and we believe that the total output of paper in all
face, 4 Strive, 5 3 5 HARYANA
Ambala 40 28
Undue, 6 Spate, 7
the Indian mills does not exceed 35,000 tons a year or nearly a
fourth of the quantity required for Indian consumption. In any
Study, 12 Set, 13
Wig, 14 Antidote, 6 1 9 Bhiwani
Hisar
44
45
29
28
case India is dependent on foreign supplies for nearly three- 15 Prodigal, 19 Karnal 40 27
fourths of the paper required by her, and owing to war conditions Assign, 20 Acute,
21 Floor, 22
8 2 Sirsa 45 29
great economies are to be effected. HIMACHAL PRADESH
Snoop.
The Home Rule Bill. 1 7 8 Dharamsala
Manali
33
24
22
09
IN reply to a question in the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law Nahan 35 23
stated that the Home Rule Bill was still being drafted. It is this ACROSS Crusoe (5) 5 To increase (5) Yesterday’s solution calendar Shimla 27 17
inordinate delay that is largely responsible for the suspicion of 1 Feeble plaintive cry (7) 19 Underhand (4-3-6) 6 Avoid committing oneself 8 4 3 1 9 7 6 5 2 Solan 33 19
June 1, 2018 Friday
the Irish party that the Government does not mean business. Of 5 Foundation (5) 20 Underground vault (5) (3,2,3,5) JAMMU & KASHMIR
6 7 9 8 2 5 4 1 3 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2075
course the Government has its difficulties. Not only is it fighting 8 Treacherous (13) 21 Upper hand (7) 7 Disreputable ■ Shaka Samvat 1940 Jammu 44 28
5 2 1 6 3 4 9 7 8 ■ Jyeshtha Shaka 11
the greatest war in history, but the question of Irish Home rule Leh 23 07
9 Slow learner (5) lawyer (7) 9 1 2 4 6 3 5 8 7 ■ Jyeshtha Parvishte 19
itself is beset with enormous difficulty. But what the Irish party ■ Hijari 1439 Srinagar 31 12
feel is that the Government cannot possibly have any new ground
10 No longer existing (7) DOWN 11 Vividly described (7) 3 6 5 9 7 8 1 2 4 ■ Krishan Paksha Tithi 3, UTTARAKHAND
to break. It knows all the facts, and all the several aspects of the 11 Merriment (6) 1 Open injury (5) 13 Difficult to accomplish (7) 4 8 7 5 1 2 3 6 9 up to 1.45 am
Dehradun 36 23
■ Subh Yog up to 6.52 pm
case. It has besides already announced that it will make the Con- 12 Congregate (6) 2 On purpose (13) 14 Bicycle for two (6) 1 3 4 7 8 6 2 9 5 ■ Moola Nakshatra up to Mussoorie 23 17
vention's report the basis of legislation. Why then this delay? 15 Loss of memory (7) 3 Discreet (7) 16 Bias (5) 7 5 6 2 4 9 8 3 1
■
5.53 am
Moon in Sagittarius sign Nainital 25 16
17 Creator of Robinson 4 Preferably (6) 18 In good time (5) 2 9 8 3 5 1 7 4 6 ■ Gandmool up to 5.53 am TEMPERATURE IN OC