Manma Bazaar faces shortage of drinking water

By Prem Raj SimkhadaKalikot, Dec. 20: Manma Bazaar, the district headquarters of Kalikot, has been facing a severe shortage of drinking water in recent times.

The lack of a regular water supply in Manma Bazaar considered the administrative, educational, and commercial centre of the district has made daily life difficult for local residents.

Locals said the problem has worsened due to the drying up of drinking water sources, the dilapidated condition of old water supply projects, and the lack of adequate maintenance and expansion.

Taps in the market area often remain dry for weeks, forcing residents to fetch water from sources located far from the bazaar.

Women, children, and the elderly have been the most affected by the shortage. Dhan Bahadur Batala, owner of Madan Hotel, said he has not received sufficient drinking water for a single day in the 42 years he has lived in Manma.

He added that indiscriminate road expansion over time has worsened the problem, while the water source located five kilometres away is unable to meet the growing demand of the market.

Spending hours every morning and evening collecting water has directly affected children’s education and women’s daily routines.

Man Bahadur Bista, Chief of the Health Department at Khandachakra Municipality, said the lack of adequate clean water has increased health and sanitation risks. 

“We need to make citizens aware of sanitation, but we are in trouble because we do not have water even to clean ourselves,” Bista said. He added that although a budget has been allocated for drinking water, a shortage of resources and damage to water pipelines often caused by people going to the forest for defecation has further aggravated the situation.

Local business owners are also facing difficulties. They say the lack of water has affected the operation of hotels, restaurants, and small businesses.

“It is shameful that such a situation exists in the district headquarters,” said Jiban Bahadur Shahi, owner of Hotel Roni. “We pay taxes, but we are not receiving basic services.” Shahi complained that despite repeated appeals to the Water Supply, Sanitation and Energy Development Office and the local government, including Khandachakra Municipality Ward No. 1, no long-term solution has been implemented.