HP seeks Rs 4,751 cr for rainwater harvesting projects
Shimla, May 25: Himachal Pradesh has sought central funding of Rs 4,751 crore for setting up rainwater harvesting structures, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Friday.
Presiding over the review meeting of the Irrigation and Public Health Department here, he said, being a hilly state, rainwater flows downstream unused and the government plans to check the water wastage by constructing water harvesting structures which could be utilized for irrigation and other purposes.
The state has also sent another proposal of Rs 798 crore for central funding for remodelling and enhancing 1,421 water supply schemes to ensure adequate supply to the people, Thakur said.
Emphasising the need for taking steps to check water leakage in the "drought-like condition in the state", he said that it is the department's duty to ensure that there is no scarcity of water.
The tourist season is on its peak across the state and efforts should be made to ensure there is no inconvenience to the people and the tourists, he said.
Officials told IANS that most of the tourist destinations in the state, including the state capital, are currently facing huge shortage of potable water.
In Shimla, localities are getting water once in a week.
The water shortage leaves tourism industry representatives worrying as Shimla gets 20,000-30,000 tourists on an average every weekend during the peak summer season (May-June).
Locals rue that Shimla is now synonymous with water scarcity -- both in summer and winter.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
