By: DR Panta

Dadeldhura: The residents of Dewal and Kanakot, who have been looking for water source for the past 4 years, have purchased a water source in the neighboring village at Rs. 0.8 million. Drinking water sources are being purchased and sold at millions of rupees after the old sources started to dry up.

“We have been looking for a water source for 4 years. We did not find any so, we bought this one finally,” said, Narayan Awasthi, adding, “They had demanded Rs. 1 million but we could not afford to pay such a huge amount.” A teacher sold the water source in Bhukuda. Not only the residents of Dewal and Kanakot, most of the villagers in the district are suffering from water woes. Many drinking water projects are started in the district but most of them are in disorder and incomplete due to lack of water source. It is obvious to sell a water source in private land or ask for the price of encroached land but water source in public land and forest of the village are bring sold and purchased in millions of rupees.
One out of three drinking water projects operated in Dewal has been postponed for not having a water source. The project is in disorder after the villagers of the neighboring Bagarkot VDC did not agreed to give water from the source in Melta. “The villagers demanded Rs. 1 million for the source,” said concerned official, adding, “We have postponed the project worth Rs. 4 million as we could afford Rs. 1 million for the water source alone.”
“The existing law does not permit trade of water sources,” said chief district officer of Dadeldhura Parshuram Aryal, adding, “It is a big crime to sell natural heritage.” However, disputes occur in many villages regarding ownership and use of water source.

Source: Kantipur, April 26, 2009