Privatization of watersupply : Shimla Nagrik Sabha held demonstration
A demonstration was held outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office Shimla by the Shimla Nagarik Sabha to against the privatization of drinking water and drinking water system in Shimla city. .The protest was attended by former Mayor Sanjay Chauhan, convenor of SNS Mr Vijender Mehra, Anil Thakur, Kishori Datwalia, Vivek Kashyap, Kapil, Raman Tharta, Mahindra Rana, Kalavati, Poorna, Amit, Jiya Nand, Darshan, Salman, Kapil, Nitish, Rama Rawat, Jagmohan, Vivek Raj , Sunita, Rajni, Rakesh, Hemraj Choudhary etc. Protesters demanded that drinking water should be made under the municipal corporation by abolishing the company SJPNL. Along with this, regular supply of drinking water of proper quality should be made everyday in all the areas. If the government does not implement these demands, then Shimla Nagarik Sabha it would intensify the struggle by mobilizing the people against these policies of the government. Sanjay Chauhan said in protest meeting that
there has been no improvement in the drinking water supply system of Shimla city since last 5 years. Despite the supply of 35 to 48 MLS water, rationing of water is going on in the city even today and water is being given on the third day. In many areas, water is available after 4 to 5 days. Along with this, there is no time for water supply and due to this, people especially working and going to the office are facing a lot of trouble. Due to this a large number of people are unable to get water. The supply of water in the city is neither regular in winter season nor in summer season nor in rainy season. Nowadays even the supply being made in the city is muddy water and this has increased the chances of water borne diseases.
In the last five years, neither the government nor the Shimla Municipal Corporation has taken any concrete steps to make the drinking water system smooth in the city. In the year 2018, under the pressure of the government, the Municipal Corporation formed a company to privatize the drinking water system and since then the drinking water system in the city has completely collapsed. Due to the poor policies of the government and the municipal corporation, in the year 2018, Shimla city had got a big bad reputation all over the world due to the drinking water crisis. The government has not learned any lesson from him till date and even today the scarcity of drinking water remains the same.
In the year 2016, for the restoration of drinking water and sewerage system by the former Municipal Corporation, a project of $ 125 million was approved from the World Bank, due to which 65 MLS of additional water was to be arranged in the city and the arrangement of drinking water and sewerage in the city would be correct. The government and the municipal corporation have not been able to start any work on it. On one hand the government is privatizing services and on the other hand it is putting more burden on the people by drastically increasing the rates of basic necessities. It is the policy of the government that every year water rates will be increased by 10 percent and 30 percent will be taken as sewerage cess. The assembly demands that this increase and sewerage cess be abolished.
The assembly appeals to the people of the city to fight together against the policies of the government that do not provide basic necessities like water to the people and impose economic burden so that the basic rights of the people can be protected, he added.
