Himachal Pradesh’s First Ozone-Based Drinking Water Project Launched in Dehra

Himachal Pradesh’s First Ozone-Based Drinking Water Project Launched in Dehra

Introduction

• First Project: Himachal Pradesh is going to get its first ozone-based drinking water treatment project in Dehra, Kangra district.
• Government Announcement: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced the project on 29 August 2026 while speaking at a public gathering at Baddal Thor in the Dehra Assembly constituency.
• Project Cost: The state government has set aside ₹46 crore for this project, which aims to provide cleaner and safer drinking water to the people living in the area.
• New Technology: The project is important because it will introduce ozone technology for drinking-water treatment in Himachal Pradesh for the first time through a dedicated project.
• Future Expansion: The government has also said that similar ozone-based water treatment facilities will be set up in other parts of the state in the future.

What Is an Ozone-Based Water Treatment System?

• Ozone Technology: Ozone-based water treatment uses ozone gas (O₃) to disinfect and treat water before it is supplied for drinking.
• Powerful Oxidant: Ozone is a strong oxidising substance that can help kill microorganisms and break down some unwanted substances present in water.
• Water Disinfection: According to reports about the Dehra project, ozone will be used to disinfect the water and also improve its taste.
• Treatment Stage: This technology can work as an additional stage of treatment before the water is supplied to people for drinking.
• Chlorine Difference: Unlike common chemical disinfection methods, ozone treatment does not depend on adding chlorine as the main disinfectant for treating the water.
• Project Design: However, the exact treatment process and the way the system will be operated at Dehra will depend on the engineering design and the implementation work carried out by the authorities.

₹46-Crore Project for Dehra

• Financial Allocation: The Himachal Pradesh government has allocated ₹46 crore for the ozone-based drinking-water project in Dehra.
• Main Objective: The main aim of the project is to provide a regular and dependable supply of clean and safe drinking water to the people of the local area.
• Tender Details: Recent tender information gives more technical details about the Dehra Town Local Water Supply Scheme (LWSS).
• Treatment Capacity: The scheme includes an ozonation system for a drinking-water treatment plant with a capacity of 2.40 million litres per day (2.4 MLD).
• Tertiary Treatment: The tender describes the ozonation system as a tertiary treatment stage, which will be installed at the water treatment plant.
• Implementation Work: This technical information shows that work related to putting the project into practice is moving forward, meaning the announcement is not simply remaining a government proposal.

Why the Project Is Important

• Public Health: Having safe drinking water is very important for public health because people need clean water for their daily drinking and other basic needs.
• Water Contamination: The Chief Minister pointed out the risks of drinking contaminated water and said that providing safe drinking water was one of the government’s priorities.
• Hill-State Challenges: In a hill state like Himachal Pradesh, keeping water safe and clean can be difficult because of the difficult terrain, changing weather conditions and the possibility of water sources becoming contaminated.
• Modern Treatment: A modern water treatment system can make the existing water-supply system stronger and help improve the way drinking water is treated.
• Future Model: The Dehra project could also become an example for bringing advanced water-treatment technology to other areas of Himachal Pradesh.

Expansion Across Himachal Pradesh

• Statewide Plans: Chief Minister Sukhu said that similar ozone-based water-treatment projects would later be established in other parts of Himachal Pradesh.
• Latest Status: However, according to the latest reports available on 31 August 2026, the government has not yet announced the exact locations or detailed timelines for these other proposed projects.
• Important Beginning: Because of this, Dehra becomes an important starting point for the possible wider modernisation of drinking-water treatment facilities across the state.

Other Announcements in Dehra

• Veterinary Hospital: During his visit, the Chief Minister also announced a veterinary hospital at Baddal Thor to provide better veterinary healthcare services in the area.
• Welfare Scheme: He also spoke about the government’s welfare programmes, including surveys being carried out for the Mukhyamantri Ka Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana.
• Forest Protection: He highlighted the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, which involves youth and women’s groups in activities such as planting trees and protecting forests.
• Education Expansion: The Chief Minister also spoke about the government’s efforts to provide more educational opportunities through CBSE schools.

Important Questions

1. What is the importance of Himachal Pradesh’s first ozone-based drinking-water project in Dehra?
2. How much money has the Himachal Pradesh government allocated for the Dehra ozone-based water project?
3. What is the water treatment capacity of the ozonation system planned under the Dehra Town Local Water Supply Scheme?
4. Why is ozone technology important for drinking-water treatment in Himachal Pradesh?
5. What other announcements were made by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during his visit to Dehra?

Conclusion

The first ozone-based drinking-water project in Dehra, Kangra, represents an important step towards modernising Himachal Pradesh’s water-treatment infrastructure. With ₹46 crore allocated, a reported 2.4 MLD ozonation system under implementation-related work, and plans for similar facilities elsewhere, the project could become a model for improving drinking-water quality across the state.