Water crisis deepens in Malikarjun as several settlements still await drinking water access

Darchula: Residents of Bajani, Sirad, Shrirad and Thing of Malikarjun Rural Municipality-2 have been demanding drinking water for years, while women, children and the elderly continue to spend their daily lives searching for water.

These settlements still do not have access to a reliable drinking water supply. Although limited water is available from some springs during the rainy season, the entire village faces severe shortages as soon as winter begins. Most households have stored dozens of plastic jugs, pitchers and drums to store water.

Local resident Gajendra Singh Dhami said, “It is sad that even now, citizens have to suffer so much for drinking water. Water is a basic necessity, but we still have to struggle for it. How can we live without a source of water? The problem every time is the drinking water of the citizens of this area. There may not be taps in every house, but even though there is good water in the settlement, the water supply is stagnant.”

A drinking water project was launched in 2079 BS with the aim of bringing water from the Jatari River, located about a kilometer below the settlement, through lifting technology. Although four years have passed since the project began, it remains incomplete.

So far, apart from the construction of water tanks, no significant progress has been made in the source area. When the project was launched, villagers expected household taps within a few years, but they are still forced to endure the same hardship. Local Chandrasingh Dhami said, “In other places, taps have reached every household. Here, we still have to walk for hours for water. Life is impossible without water, but it seems like no one listens to our pain.” He added that while other communities demand additional development projects, the people here are still struggling for basic drinking water. He said the failure to reach the village on time reflects a lack of civic accountability. Around 150 households live in these settlements.

The burden of water on children
The lack of drinking water has had a serious impact on children. School-age students spend a large part of their day carrying water, and in some families the responsibility of fetching water in the morning and evening falls on children.

According to former teacher Dhami, this responsibility affects students’ studies, and in some cases they are unable to attend school regularly. Parents are reportedly reluctant to send their children to residential schools, despite the burden of water collection.

“The first task even for children is to fetch water at home,” said another local, Tilak Singh Dhami. “Without water, it is impossible to cook, raise livestock, and carry out daily tasks.” He added that all concerned agencies should pressure the drinking water office to resolve the issue. He said the problem worsens during winter due to the lack of a reliable nearby source, forcing locals to transport water in drums using mules. According to ward secretary Khagendra Singh Dhami, most families store large drums at home. “There is a shortage of water in the village after winter sets in,” he said, “That is why many people keep drums and jars in their homes to store water.”

According to Pushkar Singh Dhami, chairman of the Drinking Water Scheme Consumer Committee, the main issue behind the delay is insufficient budget. He said Rs 1.5 million was allocated in fiscal year 2079/80, Rs 2.5 million in 2080/81, and Rs 2.5 million in 2082/83.

In the current fiscal year, work is ongoing to construct a tank door and build 95 pillars up to Sirad. The project is still in progress. “The work has not been able to pick up speed due to the small budget,” he said, adding that labor shortages have also slowed progress, as workers are unwilling to work on government wages. He stressed that completing the project requires a larger, consolidated budget allocation.

Although funding from the Water Supply and Sanitation Sub-Division Office, Darchula, has gradually increased, construction delays continue due to insufficient resources.

Malikarjun Rural Municipality Chairman Hira Singh Dhami said there is a need for regular and adequate budget allocation to complete the drinking water project. “We have requested sufficient budget allocation,” he said, “Let’s see how much will come in the new fiscal year.”