Himachal Pradesh is fast emerging as a national model for sustainable and safe drinking water solutions. The hill state, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has launched an ambitious series of smart water initiatives aimed at revolutionizing water supply infrastructure, especially in rural and difficult terrains.
With an initial allocation of Rs 80 crore, the ‘Mukhya Mantri Swachh Jal Shodhan Yojana’ introduces state-of-the-art purification technologies such as ozonation, UV filtration, reverse osmosis (RO), and nano-filtration. These modern systems will be instrumental in reducing waterborne diseases and ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water across the state.
Chief Minister Sukhu reaffirmed his government's commitment, stating, “The health of our people is non-negotiable. Every household must get clean drinking water, and we are adopting scientific and innovative solutions to guarantee this.”
To ensure accountability and transparency, sensor-based, real-time monitoring systems are being installed in 291 water supply schemes across 10 districts. The state is also setting up one state-level and 14 district-level NABL-accredited water testing laboratories to maintain quality control. Already, 71 such labs are functional, strengthening oversight of water quality standards.
The government has intensified efforts in rural and remote areas as well. Under the Rural Drinking Water Up-gradation Project, around 20,663 rural households will receive uninterrupted water supply. This Rs 745 crore initiative — Rs 148 crore of which is the state’s share — is being funded by the New Development Bank (NDB). A parallel Rs 1,062 crore project will ensure 79,282 Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in 2,471 villages across 10 districts, with nearly 43 percent of the work completed so far.
In the cold desert districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, the state is implementing 20 antifreeze water supply schemes worth Rs 27 crore and six more projects costing Rs 72 crore to ensure round-the-year access to clean water.
Urban areas are also witnessing a significant upgrade. Water supply infrastructure worth Rs 298.87 crore is being revamped in 17 towns, including Mandi, Dalhousie, Chamba, Palampur, and Hamirpur. An additional Rs 167 crore has been sanctioned for new schemes in towns like Nahan, Jawali, Arki, and Karsog. Work in 11 towns is already underway, with the rest scheduled for 2025–26.
Efforts are also being made to ensure 24×7 water supply in one area per district. Projects are currently underway in Rampur, Nalagarh, Ghumarwin, Chamba, and Nadaun, while proposals for Nerwa, Chirgaon, Kandaghat, and Tahliwal are in preparation.
In a sustainable push, HIMURJA will install solar panels in water supply, sewerage, and irrigation systems. Sewerage projects are being implemented in six towns, with five more towns targeted for the next financial year. Additionally, 41 rural sewerage schemes have been approved, with construction set to begin in 14 towns across Kangra, Mandi, Chamba, and Kinnaur.
IIT-Ropar Secures 12th Spot in India’s Top Engineering Colleges
Ropar: In a significant academic achievement, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, has been ranked 12th in the prestigious IIRF (Indian Institutional Ranking Framework) 2025 list of top engineering institutes in India. The Institute has earned its place among elite institutions like IIT-Bombay, IIT-Madras, and IIT-Delhi, surpassing several long-established colleges across the country.
Sharing the news, IIT-Ropar Director Prof Rajeev Ahuja said that the ranking reflects the Institute’s growing stature in research and innovation. Evaluated across more than 2,500 engineering colleges, the rankings assess parameters such as faculty quality, research output, industry collaboration, infrastructure, and student satisfaction.
With over Rs 600 crore in research funding and 1,056 published research papers, IIT-Ropar has emerged as a hub of cutting-edge innovation. The Institute is leading nationally in domains like defence and security technologies, energy efficiency and decarbonisation, artificial intelligence, quantum research, semiconductors, and cyber-physical systems.
Prof Ahuja credited the rise to the Institute’s robust interdisciplinary approach and commitment to solving real-world problems. “Our mission is to shape a technology-driven future, and this recognition validates our efforts in both academic and research excellence,” he added.