Acute water shortage hits Khalanga locals hard

By Netra Shahi,Jumla, June 14: The residents of Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla, are facing a dire shortage of water. 

For the past three to four days, their water taps have run dry, leaving them high and dry. As a result, locals have been forced to resort to drinking water from the nearby river.

This problem has arisen due to the drying up of the water sources that supply Khalanga with drinking water. 

The prolonged dry spell and increasing population in the region have contributed to the crisis. 

Amrita Budhathoki, a resident of Ward-9, Jumla Tila Rural Municipality, shares her experience of living in a rented house and facing water scarcity for many years. However, this time she has endured a week without tap water supply.

Consequently, residents are spending hours fetching drinking water from rivers and streams. 

Many consumers like Amrita, are experiencing the scarcity of water. It is distressing to witness the hardships faced by the locals in accessing drinking water, especially considering that Jumla has abundant water resources.

Hotel entrepreneurs in Khalanga are bearing the brunt of the acute water shortage. Several hotels in Khalanga are on the brink of closure due to the water crisis. Customers are also facing difficulties due to the lack of water supply.

Padam Bahadur Mahat of Hotel Dautari reveals the severe scarcity of water during the peak tourist season. 

To stay in the businesses, they have been compelled to purchase water. 

Mahat urged the authorities to provide sufficient water supply to support the hotel industry, emphasising their willingness to pay for it.

Netra Bhandari, director of Hotel Pauwa, added that the situation is extremely challenging since there is a shortage of water in the hotel and no provision for purchasing water from tanks. 

He emphasizes that the challenges faced by hotel entrepreneurs are even more severe.

It is reported that the springs providing drinking water are on the verge of drying up. 

This water scarcity not only affects hotels but also impacts students residing in hostels who have been staying in the district headquarter to study.

Meanwhile, the Khalanga Drinking Water Office attributed the water supply to the drying up of springs. 

Arjun Baral, head of the office, said the problem lies in the drying up of water springs, particularly the one in Chandannath-4 Khalagada. 

Baral revealed that there are more than 1,700 consumers in Khalanga alone. 

According to the 2078 census, Chandannath Municipality alone, located in the district headquarters, has a population of 21,006 people. The area houses various government offices, including the Karnali Institute of Health Sciences and an agricultural research center.

Locals await Dhauligad Project

With the ongoing drinking water shortage, the residents of Khalanga have been eagerly waiting for Dhauligad Drinking Water Project to come online. 

The federal government has initiated the mega Dhauligad Drinking Water Project in the district. 

Dipendra Bhatta, head of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management, informed that the project aims to serve 8,600 households in Chandannath Municipality, Guthichaur Rural Municipality, Tatopani Rural Municipality, and Khalanga.  

The 250 million project is expected to complete within three years.