Province government active in solving drinking water crisis

By Dharbendra Jha,Janakpurdham, July 18:  Madhes Province Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh has said that the provincial government is fully active in solving the drinking water crisis seen in all eight districts of the province.

To address the drinking water crisis in areas including Birgunj, the Ministry of Home, Communication, and Law of Madhes Province was sending eight water tankers reserved for distribution to municipalities in the affected areas on Wednesday, he said.

He informed that as per the decision of the Provincial Disaster Management Executive Committee chaired by Minister for Home, Communication and Law Raj Kumar Lekhi, eight water tankers owned by the provincial government were sent to Birgunj of Parsa district on Wednesday morning to supply drinking water to the areas severely affected by the crisis.

While dispatching the tankers to the affected areas Wednesday morning, Chief Minister Singh instructed army officers to remain fully active in resolving the drinking water problem.

Each tanker holds 5,000 litres of water, and with eight tankers, 40,000 litres of drinking water can be supplied at a time. 

During a programme, Chief Minister said these tankers would operate 24 hours a day in areas facing drinking water shortages.

The water tankers sent to the affected areas will be managed by the provincial government and operated by the Nepal Army, informed Bimal Baral, Secretary at the Ministry of Home, Communication, and Law of Madhes Province.

Earlier, the Madhes Province government had deployed three tankers from the Forest Office to supply drinking water in Birgunj and other areas of Parsa district, said the Chief Minister’s Press Advisor, Awadhesh Jha.

Similarly, the Nepal Army is also preparing to send seven tankers and one more water tanker to the areas facing drinking water problems, he added. 

The Chief Minister’s active efforts clearly show that the provincial government stands with the citizens affected by drought and the drinking water crisis, he said. 

He further added that to resolve the ongoing drinking water problem in Madhes Province, the provincial government is working in coordination with the federal government, local governments, and humanitarian aid organisations to make maximum use of resources to solve the citizens’ problems.

The eight water tankers sent to Birgunj will supply drinking water door-to-door in the affected wards, it has been informed.