By: Ram Sharan Bajgain

Kavre: Tap in Shreekhandapur of Dhulikhel ran dry within two hours of inauguration by native and foreigner guests. The locals are compelled to fetch water from cesspool and stonespout after the taps ran dry.

Assistant Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Pandey and representative of foreign donor agency inaugurated the expanded drinking water project of Dhulikhel on June 6. The taps ran dry within two hours of inauguration.
Water is supplied for only two hours in ward nos. 7, 8 and 9 of Dhulikhel municipality. The situation arose after the Dhulikhel Drinking Water Users’ Committee did not agree to provide drinking water to 500 families in the wards according to expanded drinking water project. There was an agreement between the locals and committee on May 17, 2006 to supply water regularly after constructing the physical infrastructures of the project. As per the agreement, about 519 families of three wards had submitted application to the committee with Rs. 3000 per family. The locals have constructed the physical infrastructure of the project in coordination of Choice Nepal and assistance of construction materials worth Rs. 5.9 million from international organization named LDS Charities after the agreement. Stating that the committee lacks resources, it stopped water supply within two hours of inauguration by the guests. “There is doubt in getting water as the Users’ Committee has stated that it cannot provide water until the municipality manages a new water source for the project,” said a local, Bishnu Sharma. He also blamed that the Committee is indifferent to provide drinking water to other places rather than market area of municipality.

Source: Naya Patrika, June 8, 2008