Compulsion to buy water about to conclude for locals of Gulmi

By Tilachan Pandey, Tamghas, Apr.10: The locals of Kot Basti in Wards 1 and 2 of Kaligandaki Rural Municipality have been grappling with a drinking water crisis for years. This year, however, will be different for they will have water taps in the village. 

Locals, who have been finding ways to fill their utensils, such as fetching water from wells, tubes, and traditional natural water for drinking water for a long time, are now happy that their suffering will end as the work of lifting water from the Thotneri River has reached the final stage.

Local Tilak Rana said that locals, who are forced to transport water from tankers during the winter due to the drinking water problem are hoping to get rid of the problem.

Rana said that although 'one house, one stream', seems to be a farfetched plan. It would be a great achievement even if four or five houses can gather in one place and fill their water tanks.

Local Gyanu Pandey said that during the rainy season, locals bring water from the Chidiyar source and drink it, but during the winter, the water sources dry up, creating a water problem.

She said that in this place worth of water can be measured like ghee because one has to pay 1,500 rupees at a time when transporting water by vehicle.

75-year-old Tiladevi Sunar complained that her life is just wasting away from going from one place to another, Jhatabas and Toladi, to fill her utensils. 

Locals, who have been facing drinking water problems for decades, have been expressing their grief, saying that leaders are only using them as vote banks during elections and not solving the problem.

Many locals have left the village because of water scarcity. 

According to Saroj Neupane, head of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office, electrification work has been completed at the location and plans have been made to pump water up to the top within the next week.

He said that this will prove to be a boon for that place for now. 

He said that he will demand a budget in the province for 'One House, One Stream' next year.

He said that this requires the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, including political parties.