DADELDHURA – A newly built dirt road has connected Aalital Rural Municipality-7 of Dadeldhura. One has to travel by a primitive road of Budhitola to reach Koilani. No men are seen in the village as most of them have gone to India for job. Even those living in the village have gone to the market. There is a primary school in the village. The village children study at the local school.
This village has only one water source. It is the common source of water for the 42 families living in the village. In the past, it could barely meet the water necessity of the village. However, the source is drying up lately. Because of this, the locals are facing water shortage.
“We don’t’ have enough water. The water crisis becomes acute during summer (in April-May). What else can we do? We have no choice,” said Ganga Bohara, a resident of Alital Rural Municipality-6.
The forest area around the water source has depleted. Local were unaware about proper utilization of environmental resources. The deforestation started having its direct effect on the water resources. Only after the water resources started drying up the local realized that the haphazard exploitation of natural resources causes problem.
“We understood the need to protect trees for conservation of water resources. That’s why we are planting trees now. We need to plant trees such as mango and bamboo that makes the soil damp and wet. I think we should plant trees around water sources to increase water,” said Parbati Joshi, of Alital Rural Municipality-4.
After the water resources dried up, we had to travel afar to fetch water. With assistance from various organizations, a few water taps have been built. But still the water woes have not gone away. Then the locals gradually began to look for ways to conserve their water sources. They also initiated necessary measures to conserve water that have started giving positive outcome.
Water biodiversity has a vital role in environmental conservation. The conservation is not possible without active participation of the locals. The residents of Koilani folk became conscious after the water sources started drying up. They started adopting natural ways for conservation of water resources. This has given positive results.
Chairperson of Siddha Bhagwati Kalika Community Forest, Koilani, Harka Bista has been leading the task of water conservation. At first, Bista make the locals aware about the importance of conservation. The locals also understood and supported him in the campaign. Now, many measures are being undertaken for the conservation of water sources.
“We built check-dams above the water source, and planted various types of plants. Many works are being done that will help in increasing water at the source,” said chairman Bista.
Locals have planted trees around the water source. And recharge ponds and dams have been built upstream. They say the water level has increased at the source.
“Now the water level has increased. Otherwise there would not have been this much water,” said the chairman.
Koilani village is surrounded by old Sal trees. New plants have not grown due to unmanaged use of forest resource. Grazing of domestic animals has been banned in the forest area. The locals say these measures have helped in increasing the forest area.
“We adopted water recharging system by digging pits. We are working how we can increase water at the source,” said Karna Bahadur Bista, a resident of Alital-4.
Despite the increase in water at the source, it is not enough because of the growth in population. To meet the demand, water should be pulled from another source that lies in the lower region. Conservationist leader Harka Bista is planning to take help from the rural municipality.
“If the rural municipality gives certain amount, the community forest will make certain investment. It would be better if we could build a fence around the source,” said Bista.
The rural municipality is planning to take the drinking water to all the places. Though it will be a little difficult to run the project due to geographical remoteness, the local body is committed to ensure easy access of water to everyone.
“It is our policy to conserve water source. We are planning to adopt measures to increase the recharge of groundwater. There is severe scarcity of water, which is why we are serious about conserving the available water sources,” said Bal Bahadur Gurung, chairman of Alital Rural Municipality.
Harka Bista has been incorporating everyone in various campaigns aimed at conserving water sources, while the locals are happy with his work.
“He [Bista] gives us advice on how to conserve water source and tells us what to do and what not to do. He is doing good work. We all are happy,” said Parbati Joshi, a resident of Alital Rural Municipality-4.
The residents of Koilani have understood the proper way to consume the natural resources on time. They adopted necessary measures accordingly and got positive outcomes. This kind of campaigns held with the participation of locals has helped in reducing different kind of natural threats. Their work is exemplary.
