P. Khatri

While walking around New Road and Ranjana alley, one can see the remnants of an old tap surrounded by iron bars. The letter 'Bir Dhara 1890' is engraved on the tap’s upper part. But water does not flow from this tap now. A thick iron tap is about three feet above the ground. In this section, 'Ellie and McLean' and 'Glasgow' are written in English alphabets.
Another similar scene appears on the way to Makkhan from Pipalbot of New Road. Bir Dhara is inscribed on the ruins of this tap as well. The locals still worship this with red clay. Behind the temple of Shantaneshwar Mahadev near Indrachowk, there is a four-foot tall iron pipe-shaped structure. Its top is round. The word 'Tri-Bhim 1988' is written in that structure. The area around is has been used as motorcycle parking today.
Yet, another iron pipe is seen just below Dilli Bazaar Pipalbot. This is similar to the one located at Indrachowk. A new pipeline has been added to this tap to manage drinking water for the locals once a week. Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL)’s Baneshwor branch is arranging water here by installing new extra pipeline. KUKL officials say Tri-Bhim Dhara located in Dilli Bazaar is the only such a tap in Kathmandu today.
Rana Prime Minister Bir Shumsher had ordered to construct these taps to provide water to the people of Kathmandu. A pond was constructed near Maharajgunj and water is supplied to these taps through iron pipes. This pond is now called Pani Pokhari located in Maharajgunj. Water is brought to this pond from Shivapuri Hill using large iron pipes.
Bhim Shumsher, who became the Prime Minister 44 years after Bir Shumsher, created the 'Tri-Bhim' taps like Bir Dhara. It is not clear where and how many 'Bir Dharas' and 'Tri-Bhim Dharas' were installed in Kathmandu. Bhim Shumsher had given continuity to the construction of Kaldhara or hand-pump started by Bir Shumsher.
Nonetheless, these taps are our heritage and they should be preserved now as they are on the verge of disappearance with the advent of modernity. Historian Ramesh Dhungel says Prime Minister Bir Shumsher had planned to build taps at various places in Kathmandu in 1945 B.S. Accordingly, the construction work of Kaldhara began after 1946 B.S.
Bir Shumsher had expanded the pipeline by bringing in a British engineer from India. After the taps are installed, a copper plate with the word 'Bir Dhara' is mentioned on it. After that, it is called 'Bir Dhara'.
Another historian Prakash Raj Pandey says the 'Bir Dhara' of Ranjana lane may have been built in the UK as the English alphabets 'Ally and McLean' and Glasgow' are written on it.
Pandey remembers that water used to come in 'Bir Dhara' till 2032 B.S. He says, "I remember the people of Naumug Tole of Indrachowk drinking water, bathing and washing clothes there". Some 'Bir Dharas' were removed during the reign of Bhim Shumsher. He dug up some 'Bir Dhara' and asked for installation of 'Tri-Bhim Dhara'.
The book titled 'Chronicle of Rana Rule' written by Pramod Shumsher Rana mentions that a huge water tank was constructed at the foot of the Shivapuri Hill with the help of engineers from India. The clean water collected was distributed to people through big iron pipes after bringing it up to Pani Pokhari height at Maharajgunj.
While the dream of the resident of Kathmandu to drink Melamchi's water is coming true soon, it is the responsibility of the state and local bodies to protect such historic taps.