Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring? ~ Neltje Blanchan

The flowers in the garden are pretty, and they smell so sweet. Spring is in full bloom, and the air is filled with sweet fragrance of flowers in riots of colours. Some of the flowers are popular the world over not only for their beauty, but also for their sweet fragrance.

How many kinds of sweet flowers grow in a spring garden? Know some of the exotic ones, their meaning and what each symbolises, and enjoy a fragrant garden.

Lilac -The sweetest of spring flowers, much has been written and sung about Lilac and lilac wine. In pastel pink, mauve and white, it is said to symbolise purity and innocence. 

Magnolia – With more than 200 species of its kind, the fragrance of magnolia can drown you in a world of fantasy. In varied hues of yellow, pink, mauve and white, magnolia symbolises the feminine side of life. In some places, it blooms in summer as well.

Sweet Pea: This small, sweet smelling flower blooms in winter and early spring as well. Its fragrance fills the street when in full bloom. It comes in all colours. They bloom well in the sun and their roots deep and firm in moist soil. It symbolises delicacy and is associated with blissful pleasure

Tulip: One of the most beautiful flowers of spring, tulip that touches the heart and soul grows well in full sun and well drained soil. Its meaning lies in pure and perfect love. Depending on its colour, it is associated with differents moods as in joy and sadness and passion.

Grape Hyacinth: Its colour is purple and blue and looks like a bunch of grape. Grow them in well-drained soil and keep them in a shady place with a little bit of sunshine to it. It symbolises humbleness and modesty.

Daffodil: It has a mildly sweet smell. Also knwon as Lent Lily, daffodil stands for new beginnings. You can grow them in a sunny place and a big spread looks good when the flowers are in full bloom.

Azalea: It comes in single and double blooms. In shades of red, pink and white, Azaleas grow well in shade and slightly moist soil. As delicate as it is, Azaleas symbolise love, feminine beauty and softness.  

Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring? ~ Neltje Blanchan

The flowers in the garden are pretty, and they smell so sweet. Spring is in full bloom, and the air is filled with sweet fragrance of flowers in riots of colours. Some of the flowers are popular the world over not only for their beauty, but also for their sweet fragrance.

How many kinds of sweet flowers grow in a spring garden? Know some of the exotic ones, their meaning and what each symbolises, and enjoy a fragrant garden.

Lilac -The sweetest of spring flowers, much has been written and sung about Lilac and lilac wine. In pastel pink, mauve and white, it is said to symbolise purity and innocence. 

Magnolia – With more than 200 species of its kind, the fragrance of magnolia can drown you in a world of fantasy. In varied hues of yellow, pink, mauve and white, magnolia symbolises the feminine side of life. In some places, it blooms in summer as well.

Sweet Pea: This small, sweet smelling flower blooms in winter and early spring as well. Its fragrance fills the street when in full bloom. It comes in all colours. They bloom well in the sun and their roots deep and firm in moist soil. It symbolises delicacy and is associated with blissful pleasure

Tulip: One of the most beautiful flowers of spring, tulip that touches the heart and soul grows well in full sun and well drained soil. Its meaning lies in pure and perfect love. Depending on its colour, it is associated with differents moods as in joy and sadness and passion.

Grape Hyacinth: Its colour is purple and blue and looks like a bunch of grape. Grow them in well-drained soil and keep them in a shady place with a little bit of sunshine to it. It symbolises humbleness and modesty.

Daffodil: It has a mildly sweet smell. Also knwon as Lent Lily, daffodil stands for new beginnings. You can grow them in a sunny place and a big spread looks good when the flowers are in full bloom.

Azalea: It comes in single and double blooms. In shades of red, pink and white, Azaleas grow well in shade and slightly moist soil. As delicate as it is, Azaleas symbolise love, feminine beauty and softness.  

Rahul Bose's upcoming film Poorna, which is based on a real life story, is capturing everyone's attention for its inspiring content. 

Bose recently hosted a special screening of the film for B-towners and they came out of the theatre with happy faces and were full of praises for the film, sources said.

"Poorna is one of the best films I have seen in a long time. I cried and was inspired at the same time! Great performances!," Vidya Balan said.

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi was touched by the film and said, "Poorna moves you, inspires you, makes you cry, and finally makes you proud of this little girl's achievement. I would gladly see it a second time!"

According to Rajkummar Rao, "Poorna is a triumph of human endurance, aspirations and courage. A little girl from an unknown village in India had conquered the impossible. A heart warming biopic of an ordinary 13 year old girl who made it to the top of Everest and made history."

The film was praised by not only the people of film industry but also by the cricketers.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli said, "I just want to congratulate Rahul and the team first for putting together such a special film. We all were very moved by it and so much to learn from the film as well. The way it’s been put, the innocence of Poorna herself and her colleague Anand to have climbed Everest was something which was amazing to see. Teaches us a lot of things that…if we believe in something, it can be achieved and there has to be a bigger reason behind it. I certainly would tell everyone to watch it and learn from it, not just watch it. And urge the girls of this country to move forward and do special things which doesn’t quite happen very often and it is something which is, you know, very close to me as well. And I also would like to learn a lot from this film, already have. So, thank you so much for this experience again and I wish you guys all the best."

Veteran cricketer Anil Kumble also shared his thoughts on the film, "It’s really an inspirational story, well brought out by Rahul. Congratulations Rahul and your team for a wonderful…wonderfully documented story. Congratulations Poorna for being the first…for being the youngest girl to reach Mt. Everest. I think for every Poorna there is a Praveen Kumar behind and the story of Praveen Kumar and Poorna and the support that has come through in this movie is being brilliantly brought out by Rahul. Congratulations and I’m sure lot of people who will watch this will get inspired. Thank you so much for having us."

'Poorna' is a biopic based on Poorna Malavath, the youngest girl to climb Mount Everest. The movie showcases her journey and her determination to achieve her dreams, against all odds. 

Directed by Rahul Bose,Poorna' is slated to hit theatres on March 31.
 

Rahul Bose's upcoming film Poorna, which is based on a real life story, is capturing everyone's attention for its inspiring content. 

Bose recently hosted a special screening of the film for B-towners and they came out of the theatre with happy faces and were full of praises for the film, sources said.

"Poorna is one of the best films I have seen in a long time. I cried and was inspired at the same time! Great performances!," Vidya Balan said.

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi was touched by the film and said, "Poorna moves you, inspires you, makes you cry, and finally makes you proud of this little girl's achievement. I would gladly see it a second time!"

According to Rajkummar Rao, "Poorna is a triumph of human endurance, aspirations and courage. A little girl from an unknown village in India had conquered the impossible. A heart warming biopic of an ordinary 13 year old girl who made it to the top of Everest and made history."

The film was praised by not only the people of film industry but also by the cricketers.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli said, "I just want to congratulate Rahul and the team first for putting together such a special film. We all were very moved by it and so much to learn from the film as well. The way it’s been put, the innocence of Poorna herself and her colleague Anand to have climbed Everest was something which was amazing to see. Teaches us a lot of things that…if we believe in something, it can be achieved and there has to be a bigger reason behind it. I certainly would tell everyone to watch it and learn from it, not just watch it. And urge the girls of this country to move forward and do special things which doesn’t quite happen very often and it is something which is, you know, very close to me as well. And I also would like to learn a lot from this film, already have. So, thank you so much for this experience again and I wish you guys all the best."

Veteran cricketer Anil Kumble also shared his thoughts on the film, "It’s really an inspirational story, well brought out by Rahul. Congratulations Rahul and your team for a wonderful…wonderfully documented story. Congratulations Poorna for being the first…for being the youngest girl to reach Mt. Everest. I think for every Poorna there is a Praveen Kumar behind and the story of Praveen Kumar and Poorna and the support that has come through in this movie is being brilliantly brought out by Rahul. Congratulations and I’m sure lot of people who will watch this will get inspired. Thank you so much for having us."

'Poorna' is a biopic based on Poorna Malavath, the youngest girl to climb Mount Everest. The movie showcases her journey and her determination to achieve her dreams, against all odds. 

Directed by Rahul Bose,Poorna' is slated to hit theatres on March 31.
 

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday retained the key portfolios of Home and Finance, and allotted one ministry each to nine other cabinet ministers.

While two BJP ministers Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar have been given the Urban Development and Power, three Goa Forward Party legislators Vijai Sardesai, Vinod Paliencar and Jayesh Salgaocar have been given respectively the Town and Country Planning, Water Resources Department and Housing Board.

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which has two lawmakers Sudin Dhavalikar and Manohar Azgaonkar in the cabinet, has been given the coveted Public Works Department and Tourism ministries.

Independent legislators Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gawde, who have extended their support to Parrikar to form the new ministry in Goa, have been allotted the Revenue, and Art and Culture ministries.

The allotment of ministries was notified in the state government gazette on Monday after formal approval of Goa Governor Mridula Sinha earlier in the day.

Parrikar was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the state on March 14.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday retained the key portfolios of Home and Finance, and allotted one ministry each to nine other cabinet ministers.

While two BJP ministers Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar have been given the Urban Development and Power, three Goa Forward Party legislators Vijai Sardesai, Vinod Paliencar and Jayesh Salgaocar have been given respectively the Town and Country Planning, Water Resources Department and Housing Board.

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which has two lawmakers Sudin Dhavalikar and Manohar Azgaonkar in the cabinet, has been given the coveted Public Works Department and Tourism ministries.

Independent legislators Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gawde, who have extended their support to Parrikar to form the new ministry in Goa, have been allotted the Revenue, and Art and Culture ministries.

The allotment of ministries was notified in the state government gazette on Monday after formal approval of Goa Governor Mridula Sinha earlier in the day.

Parrikar was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the state on March 14.

Middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb stood tall in front of his wicket to help Australia draw the third Test at the JSCA International Complex, Ranchi that concluded on Monday.

The four-match Test series is level by 1-1 and thus, the fourth Test, to be held at Dharamsala on March 25-29, would be crucial for both the sides.

A determined pair of Handscomb (72*) and Shaun Marsh (53) helped Australia avoid a close defeat as they put a 124-run partnership stand for the fifth-wicket, second longest in the ongoing series after 199-run partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha.

The partnership came to rescue Australians after early blows on the fifth and final day of the Test as Australia appeared struggling at 83/4 earlier at lunch.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade (9*) was batting alongside Handscomb when the day concluded with Australia at 204/6.

"A pretty good test. Proud of the way the boys stuck it out. That's what we want to be. Resilient," Australian skipper Steve Smith said in the post-match ceremony.

Smith had scored exemplary knock of 178 runs (not out) in the first innings to propel the visitors to a strong total of 451 runs.

However, the 27-year-old was sent back to pavilion early in the second innings as Indian tweaker Ravindra Jadeja (4/54) dismissed him for just 21 runs.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who smashed 202 runs off 525 balls playing the record-longest Test innings, was bestowed with the Man Of The Match award.

Middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb stood tall in front of his wicket to help Australia draw the third Test at the JSCA International Complex, Ranchi that concluded on Monday.

The four-match Test series is level by 1-1 and thus, the fourth Test, to be held at Dharamsala on March 25-29, would be crucial for both the sides.

A determined pair of Handscomb (72*) and Shaun Marsh (53) helped Australia avoid a close defeat as they put a 124-run partnership stand for the fifth-wicket, second longest in the ongoing series after 199-run partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha.

The partnership came to rescue Australians after early blows on the fifth and final day of the Test as Australia appeared struggling at 83/4 earlier at lunch.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade (9*) was batting alongside Handscomb when the day concluded with Australia at 204/6.

"A pretty good test. Proud of the way the boys stuck it out. That's what we want to be. Resilient," Australian skipper Steve Smith said in the post-match ceremony.

Smith had scored exemplary knock of 178 runs (not out) in the first innings to propel the visitors to a strong total of 451 runs.

However, the 27-year-old was sent back to pavilion early in the second innings as Indian tweaker Ravindra Jadeja (4/54) dismissed him for just 21 runs.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who smashed 202 runs off 525 balls playing the record-longest Test innings, was bestowed with the Man Of The Match award.

Ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam on Monday said every collaboration with double Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman is a special journey.

The filmmaker and composer, along with legendary lyricist Vairamuthu, have been working together for 25 years.

Commenting on his long-standing relationship with Rahman, the Roja filmmaker told reporters here: "It's been 25 years, but it just feels like I met Rahman yesterday.

"Every film with Rahman is a special journey. He brings newness to each project, new sound and new music."

Ratnam was speaking at the audio launch of Kaatru Veliyidai.

He said he is thankful for this collaboration with Rahman and Vairamuthi. The triumvirate's journey started with 1992 Tamil romantic drama Roja.

Rahman said he's blessed to have found a mentor in Ratnam.

"I'm thankful to the platform I have received because of Mani sir. If Balachander sir had not introduced me to Mani sir, I wouldn't have had this platform," Rahman said.

Slated to release on April 7, Kaatru Veliyidai stars Karthi as a fighter pilot and Aditi Rao Hydari as a doctor.

Ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam on Monday said every collaboration with double Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman is a special journey.

The filmmaker and composer, along with legendary lyricist Vairamuthu, have been working together for 25 years.

Commenting on his long-standing relationship with Rahman, the Roja filmmaker told reporters here: "It's been 25 years, but it just feels like I met Rahman yesterday.

"Every film with Rahman is a special journey. He brings newness to each project, new sound and new music."

Ratnam was speaking at the audio launch of Kaatru Veliyidai.

He said he is thankful for this collaboration with Rahman and Vairamuthi. The triumvirate's journey started with 1992 Tamil romantic drama Roja.

Rahman said he's blessed to have found a mentor in Ratnam.

"I'm thankful to the platform I have received because of Mani sir. If Balachander sir had not introduced me to Mani sir, I wouldn't have had this platform," Rahman said.

Slated to release on April 7, Kaatru Veliyidai stars Karthi as a fighter pilot and Aditi Rao Hydari as a doctor.

The two Sufi clerics who returned from Pakistan on Monday morning met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with their family members.

Reports suggest that Syed Asif Nizami and Nazim Nizami, the two clerics, thanked the governments of India and Pakistan for their safe return but remained silent what led to their disappearance.

Nazim Ali Nizami, one of the clerics has even rejected Pakistani media reports that they were in interior Sindh claiming that they did not have any visa for that region.

"We did not have visa for Sindh interior region, so how could we have gone there? We come from the school of sufi which teaches peace and brotherhood. There are good and bad elements and those who go against the teachings they have to suffer humiliation," he was quoted as saying to a news agency.

Swaraj had on Sunday said in a series of tweets that she spoke to one of the two clerics, who were later found after going missing in Pakistan.

"I just spoke to Syed Nazim Ali Nizami in Karachi. He told me that they are safe and will be back in Delhi on Monday," she had said in a tweet.

Syed Asif Nizami, the head priest (Sajjadanashin) of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah and his nephew Nazim Nizami had gone to Pakistan on March 8 as part of annual exchanges between Hazrat Nizamuddin and Garib Nawaz, who is venerated at the Data Darbar Sufi shrine in Lahore.

The two Sufi clerics who returned from Pakistan on Monday morning met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with their family members.

Reports suggest that Syed Asif Nizami and Nazim Nizami, the two clerics, thanked the governments of India and Pakistan for their safe return but remained silent what led to their disappearance.

Nazim Ali Nizami, one of the clerics has even rejected Pakistani media reports that they were in interior Sindh claiming that they did not have any visa for that region.

"We did not have visa for Sindh interior region, so how could we have gone there? We come from the school of sufi which teaches peace and brotherhood. There are good and bad elements and those who go against the teachings they have to suffer humiliation," he was quoted as saying to a news agency.

Swaraj had on Sunday said in a series of tweets that she spoke to one of the two clerics, who were later found after going missing in Pakistan.

"I just spoke to Syed Nazim Ali Nizami in Karachi. He told me that they are safe and will be back in Delhi on Monday," she had said in a tweet.

Syed Asif Nizami, the head priest (Sajjadanashin) of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah and his nephew Nazim Nizami had gone to Pakistan on March 8 as part of annual exchanges between Hazrat Nizamuddin and Garib Nawaz, who is venerated at the Data Darbar Sufi shrine in Lahore.

European Space Agency (ESA) is scheduled to launch its Jupiter exploring spacecraft in 2022 on a mission to examine the giant planet's turbulent atmosphere, enormous magnetosphere, its set of tenuous dark rings and satellites.

With arrival in the Jovian system in 2029, the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer Juice – will spend three-and-a-half years examining Jupiter, the European Space Agency (ESA) said.

It will study the large icy moons Ganymede, Europa and Callisto, which are thought to have oceans of liquid water beneath their icy crusts – perhaps even harbouring habitable environments.

The mission will culminate in a dedicated, eight-month tour around Ganymede, the first time any moon beyond our own has been orbited by a spacecraft.

"The spacecraft design has been extensively and positively reviewed, and confirmed to address the many critical mission requirements," said Giuseppe Sarri, Juice project manager.

"So far we are on schedule, and are delighted to begin the development stage of this ambitious large-class mission," said Sarri.

Juice will be equipped with 10 state-of-the-art instruments, including cameras, an ice-penetrating radar, an altimeter, radio-science experiments, and sensors to monitor the magnetic fields and charged particles in the Jovian system.

In order to ensure it can address these goals in the challenging Jovian environment, the spacecraft's design has to meet stringent requirements.

An important milestone was reached earlier this month, when the preliminary design of Juice and its interfaces with the scientific instruments and the ground stations were fixed, which will now allow a prototype spacecraft to be built for rigorous testing, ESA said.

The review also confirmed that the 5.3 tonne spacecraft will be compatible with its Ariane 5 launcher.

Operating in the outer Solar System, far from the Sun, means that Juice needs a large solar array: two wings of five panels each are foreseen, which will cover a total surface area of nearly 100 square metres, capable of providing 820 Watts at Jupiter by the end of the mission.

After launch, Juice will make five gravity-assist flybys in total: one each at Mars and Venus, and three at Earth, to set it on course for Jupiter.

Its solar panels will have to cope with a range of temperatures such that when it is flying closer to the Sun during the Venus flyby, the solar wings will be tilted to avoid excessive temperatures damaging the solar cells.

The spacecraft's main engine will be used to enter orbit around the giant planet, and later around Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede. As such, the engine design has also been critically reviewed at this stage.

Special measures will allow Juice to cope with the extremely harsh radiation that it must endure for several years around Jupiter, ESA said.

European Space Agency (ESA) is scheduled to launch its Jupiter exploring spacecraft in 2022 on a mission to examine the giant planet's turbulent atmosphere, enormous magnetosphere, its set of tenuous dark rings and satellites.

With arrival in the Jovian system in 2029, the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer Juice – will spend three-and-a-half years examining Jupiter, the European Space Agency (ESA) said.

It will study the large icy moons Ganymede, Europa and Callisto, which are thought to have oceans of liquid water beneath their icy crusts – perhaps even harbouring habitable environments.

The mission will culminate in a dedicated, eight-month tour around Ganymede, the first time any moon beyond our own has been orbited by a spacecraft.

"The spacecraft design has been extensively and positively reviewed, and confirmed to address the many critical mission requirements," said Giuseppe Sarri, Juice project manager.

"So far we are on schedule, and are delighted to begin the development stage of this ambitious large-class mission," said Sarri.

Juice will be equipped with 10 state-of-the-art instruments, including cameras, an ice-penetrating radar, an altimeter, radio-science experiments, and sensors to monitor the magnetic fields and charged particles in the Jovian system.

In order to ensure it can address these goals in the challenging Jovian environment, the spacecraft's design has to meet stringent requirements.

An important milestone was reached earlier this month, when the preliminary design of Juice and its interfaces with the scientific instruments and the ground stations were fixed, which will now allow a prototype spacecraft to be built for rigorous testing, ESA said.

The review also confirmed that the 5.3 tonne spacecraft will be compatible with its Ariane 5 launcher.

Operating in the outer Solar System, far from the Sun, means that Juice needs a large solar array: two wings of five panels each are foreseen, which will cover a total surface area of nearly 100 square metres, capable of providing 820 Watts at Jupiter by the end of the mission.

After launch, Juice will make five gravity-assist flybys in total: one each at Mars and Venus, and three at Earth, to set it on course for Jupiter.

Its solar panels will have to cope with a range of temperatures such that when it is flying closer to the Sun during the Venus flyby, the solar wings will be tilted to avoid excessive temperatures damaging the solar cells.

The spacecraft's main engine will be used to enter orbit around the giant planet, and later around Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede. As such, the engine design has also been critically reviewed at this stage.

Special measures will allow Juice to cope with the extremely harsh radiation that it must endure for several years around Jupiter, ESA said.

Anguished over incidents of parents abandoning the newly born girl child, a Child Protection Officer in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh has come up with the noble idea to save the newborn females.

Duni Chand, District Child Protection Officer, Mandi has setup ‘Cradle Baby Reception Centre’ at Zonal Hospital Mandi with a message to not to throw the girl child and instead place the child in cradle.

Inspired by missionaries and churches where such system exists, Duni Chand, who was pained over recovery of girl children from forests and other secluded places in Mandi district.

“Three girl children were found abandoned in Jogindernagar, Sundernagar and Nerchowk area of Mandi district after which we decided to setup such facility at Zonal Hospital,” Duni Chand said.

The cradle has been placed near Blood Bank in Zonal Hospital, which is visited by few people and often remain secluded to protect the identity of parents.

Duni Chand said, sometimes, it has seen that such abandoned children die for the want of care as they are not be spotted by anyone on time. “Hence, we decided to give a message to all to not to abandon children and instead leave them in cradle,” he said. He said this way it becomes the responsibility of the government to take care of them.

After someone places the child in the cradle, the hospital staff would admit the children in the paediatric section to conduct a complete health check-up. “Thereafter, we would send the children to the only Shishu Kendra in HP which is situated in Shimla after stabilising the health parameters of such child,” he said.

Such children are then protected and extended care by government in Shishu Kendra and they are also put on the list for adoption. “The Child Protection Centre since its inception in 2014, is striving hard to rehabilitate and protect children rights,” he added.

Duni Chand is of the view that such cradles should be set up across the state to save the lives of newborns, abandoned by their parents.

Anguished over incidents of parents abandoning the newly born girl child, a Child Protection Officer in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh has come up with the noble idea to save the newborn females.

Duni Chand, District Child Protection Officer, Mandi has setup ‘Cradle Baby Reception Centre’ at Zonal Hospital Mandi with a message to not to throw the girl child and instead place the child in cradle.

Inspired by missionaries and churches where such system exists, Duni Chand, who was pained over recovery of girl children from forests and other secluded places in Mandi district.

“Three girl children were found abandoned in Jogindernagar, Sundernagar and Nerchowk area of Mandi district after which we decided to setup such facility at Zonal Hospital,” Duni Chand said.

The cradle has been placed near Blood Bank in Zonal Hospital, which is visited by few people and often remain secluded to protect the identity of parents.

Duni Chand said, sometimes, it has seen that such abandoned children die for the want of care as they are not be spotted by anyone on time. “Hence, we decided to give a message to all to not to abandon children and instead leave them in cradle,” he said. He said this way it becomes the responsibility of the government to take care of them.

After someone places the child in the cradle, the hospital staff would admit the children in the paediatric section to conduct a complete health check-up. “Thereafter, we would send the children to the only Shishu Kendra in HP which is situated in Shimla after stabilising the health parameters of such child,” he said.

Such children are then protected and extended care by government in Shishu Kendra and they are also put on the list for adoption. “The Child Protection Centre since its inception in 2014, is striving hard to rehabilitate and protect children rights,” he added.

Duni Chand is of the view that such cradles should be set up across the state to save the lives of newborns, abandoned by their parents.

Daily water supply seems to be a luxury in the historic city of Shimla. And ‘rationing’ an integral part of the civic body’s potable water distribution system.

This is so when Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh and international tourist destination, is competing for inclusion in the smart city project at national level.

Much to their chagrin, the people in Shimla have been getting water on an alternative day or after two days all through the year. The Shimla Municipal Corporation has different excuses in different seasons for this crisis, although. 

The locals, who saw water supply scrapped for more than a week in heavy snow in January this year for frozen pipes (forcing them to melt wayside snow for daily requirements) are worried about ensuing summers.

“We are sure that in summers, the MC will say the water sources have dried,” said some anguished residents.
“In Monsoons, silt will choke the pumps at water supply schemes,” they hastened to add. 

Shimla has a population of over 1.70 lakh and around 50,000 households. The city has few public hand pumps in some outer areas, which don't serve the purpose much.

While poor vision of successive governments, who failed to channelise additional water sources in tune with the growing population over the years, is one major reason for the persistent water shortage in Shimla.

The mismanagement in operations of pumping and distribution of water along with inefficient and unsafe handling of water sources aggravates the crisis even more.

A drinking water supply scheme at Ashwani khad had to be stopped on January 1, 2016, following worst ever jaundice outbreak in Shimla, which claimed over 20 lives, when sewage from a Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) flowed into the water supply scheme unchecked.

The scheme, which used to cater to one third of the city, is still closed as the catchment area is contaminated, officials said.

“Shimla city requires 42 mn litres of water per day, but is getting only 34-35 mn litres per day on an average. The supply from Ashwani khad is closed and Shimla MC is in the process of replacing 2,000 metres long pipes from the Giri drinking water scheme. The pumps for lifting water at Gumma scheme are also being repaired," explained Irrigation and Public Health minister, Vidya Stokes in a written reply in state assembly recently. 

Stokes said when all these works would be accomplished, water supply will add up by 5-6 mn litres per day. She talked about long terms plans on water schemes as well.

The locals are, however, not hopeful and BJP MLA from Shimla, Suresh Bhardwaj echoes their feeling.

“It is continuous mismanagement. The government has failed to ensure adequate and safe water in the state capital,” Bhardwaj said.