IPH begins work on DPR for water supply from Kol dam

SHIMLA: As confusion over the issue of bringing water from new source for Shimla ending with chief minister Virbhadra Singh giving his nod for Kol dam water project, the irrigation and public health (IPH) department has started preparing a detailed project report (DPR) in this regard, to be submitted to Union ministry of urban development for approval.
According to IPH department officials, the DPR would be completed in two weeks and would be forwarded to Centre for clearance. "Earlier, there was confusion whether to draw water from Pabbar river or Satluj through Kol dam," officials said. Water supply line of 22 km from Kol dam in Bilaspur district is more sustainable compared to Pabbar river, they said.
Chief engineer, Shimla zone, K C Dhiman, said that the DPR is under preparation and cost of the project depends on the changes suggested by Union urban development ministry. "We will submit the DPR as per our initial estimates," he added.
The project to bring water to Shimla from Kol dam was hanging fire for the last many years. The previous BJP government headed by then chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had made plans to bring water from Kol dam to ensure round-the-clock water supply in Shimla. The proposed Rs 515 crore project was planned to cater to the needs of around 7.5 lakh population of Shimla by 2045.
Sources said the previous government had sent a DPR to Union government, but the latter returned it with some suggestions. A new report is being prepared in accordance with these suggestions, they said.
IPH minister Vidya Stokes was favouring water supply scheme for Shimla from Pabbar river while chief minister Virbhadra Singh was favouring Kol dam scheme. The CM had formed a cabinet sub-committee to look into the issue, but Stokes later left the final decision on Virbhadra Singh and the latter opted for Kol dam scheme.
Stokes was against Kol dam scheme on the ground that it was not financially viable. She had said that energy charges on Satluj project (Kol dam) works out to be Rs 3,000 crore over a period of 30 years at Rs 100 crore per annum and these charges were to be borne by state government. The capital cost difference of Rs 800 crore would be wiped out over a period of eight years. Thus, Pabbar proposal was financially viable as compared to Satluj project, she had contended.