SHIMLA: Both the BJP and the Congress have been trying to woo the voters in Shimla using the water shortage issue ahead of the municipal corporation elections that is scheduled on Friday. While opposition leader Prem Kumar Dhumal has promised to find a permanent solution to the problem of water scarcity , chief minister Virbhadra Singh has claimed to soon implement the Rs 410 crore scheme to lift water from Satluj While addressing mediapersons in Shimla, Dhumal alleged that during previous BJP regime, the scheme to lift water from Satluj river was approved but later the Congress government did not make required efforts to implement the scheme. Dhumal recalled that the Congress and the CPI(M) were responsible for the supply and distribution of water in the state last year when around 20,000 persons were affected by jaundice while 32 died by jaundice after the consumption of contaminated water.He said a four-year-old boy from Shimla was murdered and his body was dumped in the water tank from where water was supplied to VIP area for judges. The matter should be probed to know how the body decomposed inside the water tank when it was being cleaned regularly as per official papers, he said raising a question.While addressing mediapersons, chief minister Virbhadra Singh said water shortage in Shimla would be removed by lifting water from Satluj river near Tattapani. He said in order to cater to the needs of a population of 1.9 lakh people in Shimla, state government has already approved Rs 410 crore scheme that would be implemented soon. He added that the scheme for Satluj river is being funded by World Bank. Singh said in order to ensure round the clock water availability in Shimla, government has resolved to implement Rs 100 crore another scheme shortly.

Stay updated with all the Latest Shimla headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.