20 years on, drinking water project in limbo

By Jibachh Yadav, Lahan, Jan 12: A drinking water project launched in Ward No. 23 of Lahan Municipality has failed to come into operation even after twenty years. Consumers have demanded the immediate operation of the project to ensure access to drinking water.

Twenty years have passed. Authorities installed a boring motor for the water tank, laid pipelines, and enclosed nearly one bigha of land at the tank construction site. But information that is not provided explains why officials never extracted water or moved the remaining work forward. Authorities must remove this uncertainty and operate the drinking water project,” local consumers said.

Locals have raised questions over the prolonged delay, as the ward also includes the residences of Siraha District Coordination Committee Chief Dinesh Mahato and Minister for Youth and Sports Bablu Gupta. Residents asked what conditions might be like in other places if such delays occur here.

Local resident Ram Bilas Yadav said the area functioned as Gadhha Village Development Committee at the time. “Authorities advanced a project worth Rs 90 million to supply safe drinking water to around 700 households and formed a committee under the chairpersonship of then ward chair Kanhaiya Prasad Gupta. The committee has never shared progress reports or expenditure details with consumers. Authorities must disclose the accounts and allow us to use water from this stalled project,” he said.

According to Drinking Water Users’ Committee Chair Kanhaiya Prasad Gupta, the committee spent around Rs 600,000 mainly on boundary wall construction. Delays slowed the work, and the Drinking Water Division Office in Rajbiraj took three years to complete tasks that required only one year.

Later, through the initiative of Lahan Municipality, the project came under the responsibility of Nepal Water Supply Corporation, Lahan. Negligence by the corporation has kept the project, which began in 2005 (2062 BS), out of operation.

Rajbiraj Drinking Water Division Office Chief Bishwanath Yadav said, “After Lahan Municipality decided in 2021 (2078 BS) to run municipal drinking water projects through Nepal Water Supply Corporation, Lahan, and the WaterAid-supported WIKAN Project, this office withdrew from responsibility.”

Nepal Water Supply Corporation, Lahan, has prioritised drinking water operation in Wards 13, 14, 16, and 24 due to severe shortages in the northern part of the municipality, said office chief Ramesh Kumar Goit.