The Jal Shakti Department's continued use of alum to treat turbid water during the monsoon has triggered a drinking water shortage and raised quality concerns in several villages in the Kasauli area of Himachal Pradesh. Natural water sources at Larah, Gorti, and other locations become highly turbid after heavy rainfall, prompting officials to rely on alum as a coagulant to settle suspended particles before supplying water. This process is time-consuming and often leads to suspension of water supply for hours or even days, leaving many villages struggling with scarcity during the rainy season.
Health Risks and Resident Complaints
Experts point out that alum only helps suspended mud, dirt, and some bacteria settle at the bottom but does not remove dissolved chemicals, heavy metals, or microscopic viruses. Residents complain that mud often settles at the bottom of stored drinking water, raising fears of water-borne diseases. Local resident Ajay claims that a similar situation exists near the Gorti water supply scheme, where untreated sewage from tourism units is allegedly discharged into the open. Residents say they are often forced to purchase packaged drinking water during the monsoon to avoid the risk of water-borne infections.
Government Schemes Not Reaching Rural Areas
Although the state government has introduced the Mukhyamantri Swachh Jal Shodhan Yojana to promote advanced treatment technologies such as ultraviolet (UV) filtration, ozonation, reverse osmosis, and nano-filtration, none of the rural water supply schemes in the Kasauli area have been covered under the programme. While urban schemes in Solan and Parwanoo have been upgraded with UV-based purification systems, rural schemes continue to rely on conventional treatment methods. Superintending Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department in Solan, Sanjeev Soni, stated that alum is used to treat turbid water.
NGT Committee Directions Unfulfilled
The issue had also figured before a National Green Tribunal-appointed committee in 2024, which found faecal coliform contamination in the Larah drinking water scheme and directed the department to install a sewage treatment plant and ensure proper treatment of water. Residents allege that the directions are yet to be implemented, leaving them vulnerable to waterborne diseases each monsoon.
