Locals forced to hire vehicle to fetch drinking water

By Tilachan Pandey,Tamghas, Nov. 26: The locals of Kot Basti in Ward-1 and 2 of Kaligandaki Rural Municipality have been grappling with a drinking water crisis for years. During winter, they are compelled to transport water by vehicle to meet their daily needs.

This issue is long-standing for the locals of Deurali, Sirkot, and Kot in Ward 2, who have been enduring this hardship for years.

As the settlements are situated above the water sources, the only solution to the drinking water problem in the area is through lifting systems. However, despite over five years of effort, the water lifting project remains incomplete.

Residents have been left disappointed as the Drinking Water Sanitation Division Tamghas has failed to accelerate the work.Tilak Rana, a local voiced his frustration, lamenting that projects such as water reservoir tank construction or motor procurement appear to be stalled perpetually. 

He questioned stakeholders about how long they would have to rely on vehicles to transport water, likening the transported water to oil in terms of its scarcity and value.

Locals in the area also criticised leaders for using the water crisis as an election slogan, only to neglect the issue once they win the elections.

Many locals accuse leaders of using the water crisis as an election slogan, only to neglect the issue after securing votes. 

They feel they are merely being used as a 'vote bank' during elections.

Another local, Tulsi Pandey shared his plight, explaining that while they rely on the Chidiyar water source during the rainy season, it dries up in winter, exacerbating their difficulties.

He stated that the drinking water problem has been troubling them even at night since the onset of winter, forcing them to pay Rs. 1,050 each time they transport water by vehicle.

Similarly, Man Kumari Rana of Sirkot complained that the drinking water crisis is forcing locals to migrate. 

She reported that more than a dozen families have already left the area, and others may follow if the problem persists.

Laxmipati Neupane of Kot echoed the concerns, highlighting that transporting water by vehicle is not only expensive but also unaffordable for many residents.

The Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office in Tamghas, Gulmi, has explained that, as the drinking water source is located below the settlement, it can only be supplied through a lifting system.

According to Saroj Neupane, the office head, the construction of tanks and laying of water pipelines were undertaken with last year’s budget to lift water from the Thotneri River.

He stated that the current year’s budget is being utilised to complete electrification and water supply works.

Neupane stated that although the issues in the area are well understood, the work remains incomplete due to a lack of funding.

For now, residents of Deurali, Arbeni Kot, and Sirkot continue to rely on vehicles to transport drinking water, an expensive and unsustainable solution.