Himachal nod to Sutlej water supply draft package with World Bank

Shimla :The Cabinet approved the draft Negotiation Package negotiated by the Urban Development Department with the World Bank and Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Govt of India for funding Shimla Water Supply & Sewerage Services Delivery Program for improvement of WSS services in Greater Shimla Area for Financial Assistance from World Bank with total financial outlay of $ 250 Million (INR 1813 Crore).

Out of $ 250 Million (INR 1813 Crore); World Bank will provide Financial assistance to the tune of $ 160 Million ( INR 1160.32 Crore) and rest amount of $ 90 Million ( INR 652.68 Crore) will be borne by GoHP. It also authorized Principal Secretary, Department of Urban Development, GoHP to finalize and sign the Negotiation Package with the World Bank. 

The main components of the Shimla Water Supply and Sewerage Project are augmentation of Shimla Water Supply from river Satluj with additional 67 MLD to meet the water demand upto year 2050, bulk water supply to Shimla Peri-Urban areas to meet the water demand of Special Area Development Authorities (SADA) Kufri, Shoghi, Ghanahatti and additional planning areas up to year 2050, 24X7 Water Supply to all domestic and commercial consumers within Shimla Municipal Corporation Area and improved Sewerage services within Shimla Municipal Corporation Area.

The project envisages lifting water from Satluj near village Shakrodi, involving lifting to a height of 1.6 km and pipe laying of 22 km to augment 67 MLD water at Sanjauli. The project also seeks to replace the distribution pipe network across MC Shimla to upgrade it to 24×7 water supply system.

Additionally, the sewerage network in areas of Mehli-Panthaghati, Totu and Mashobra will be provided. This will be a flagship project for the State as it seeks to provide best in class water supply and sewerage system in Shimla that will cater to requirements of the town up to year 2050. The Department of Urban Development, Government of Himachal Pradesh has been able to secure this funding from the World Bank and Ministry of Finance despite fiscal constraints posed due to Covid 19. 

The meeting of State Cabinet held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur decided to fill up 4000 posts of different categories of teachers including 820 posts of drawing teachers and 870 posts of physical education teacher posts in Education Department.

Out of these 4000 posts, 2640 posts of teachers would be filled in Elementary Education Department, and 1360 posts in Higher Education Department would be filled up on contract basis to ensure quality education to the students nearer to their homes.  It was decided that batchwise recruitment for different posts of teachers should be expedited.