People in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district will soon get rid of melting snow in winter and using it for drinking water. For the first time in the state, the state government has approved the anti-freezing drinking water project, for which Rs 13.19 crore has been sanctioned. Due to this, drinking water will not freeze in the pipes even in minus 15 degree temperature in the valley. Three layer water pipes will be used for the project. Not only this, arrangements will also be made to keep the water treatment plant warm.
Due to this, the residents of Lahaul will not face the shortage of drinking water for 24 hours in winter. After this, work can be done on such drinking water project in other cold areas including Shimla of the state. Jal Shakti Department is going to start this drinking water project at Keylong, headquarter of Lahaul. Tenders are being invited in March. Drinking water schemes get frozen with snow as the temperature drops to minus 15 degrees during winters in cold winter areas like Lahaul-Spiti.
In such a situation, the anti-freezing drinking water project will prove to be a boon in snowy areas. With this, about three thousand population of Keylong will get 24-hour drinking water facility even in the winter season. For the first time in this drinking water project, about four km long, high quality pipes of three layer HDP (three layer pipe) will be used. The inner layer of the pipe will be of thermocol, while the outer layer of the pipe will also not allow water to freeze.
This will keep the water flowing smoothly even in severe cold. This technique is used in European countries. Water from the main pipe will first be deposited into four storage tanks, which will be fully insulated as they go underground. Before supplying drinking water to the people, it will be filled in the treatment plant. This treatment plant will be equipped with heating system.
The main pipeline will be buried about three feet deep inside the ground. Vinod Dhiman, Executive Engineer of Jal Shakti Department, Keylong Division, said that the state government has sanctioned Rs 13.19 crore for this anti-frizzing drinking water project. This is the first of its kind drinking water project in Himachal. It will be ready within two years.After the completion of this project, smooth water will be available to the people in the district headquarter Keylong even during the winter season. This scheme is being made from the budget of Tribal Sub Plan. Ramlal Markanda, Minister of Tribal Affairs
