Solan MC Hands Over Water Supply: Debt Crisis Forces Transfer to JSD
The Solan Municipal Corporation (MC) is offloading its water distribution responsibilities to the Jal Shakti Department (JSD), effective immediately. This decision, announced late Thursday, July 31, 2025, follows a crippling financial crisis triggered by a steep tariff hike implemented in 2024.
The hike, intended to address rising operational costs, instead resulted in a staggering Rs 123 crore debt for the MC. This has severely hampered the corporation’s ability to maintain and upgrade the water infrastructure.
The transfer to the JSD is aimed at establishing uniform water rates across the region and ensuring a more sustainable water supply system. Sources suggest the upcoming elections also played a significant role in this strategic move.
The move raises concerns about potential job losses within the MC’s water department and the overall efficiency of the JSD in managing the increased workload. The impact on water tariffs for Solan residents remains to be seen, with anxieties high amongst the populace regarding potential future price increases. This development highlights the precarious financial state of many municipal corporations and the urgent need for sustainable financial models in urban water management across Himachal Pradesh.
