PYUTHAN: Is it the spirit of federalism to deprive the remote people from getting drinking water? Saraswati Thapa, 54, of Mallarani Rural Municipality-3 in Pyuthan district expressed her anger. The people living in up hills have started suffering from drinking water after the water sources started getting dry.
Thapa expressed her sarcastic remarks at the ‘Paani Chalfal’ organized at Khalanga by the Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ). The program was also participated by provincial lawmaker Krishna Dhoj Khadka of Province 5 and municipal chairman and ward-chairmen of Mallarani Rural Municipality.
She said that the provincial and local governments should help them as they were facing problem of drinking water since long. After water sources started getting dry, the locals are forced to walk an hour to fetch drinking water.
Drinking water problem is not only of people of Dharampani but also five wards including Chunja, and Raspurkot of Mallaranu Rural Municipality. Climate change should be tackled to preserve water sources, said Thapa.
Srijana Pokharel of Mallarani-3 Chaurpani said that water source was available at their settlement. A total of 92 households were using water from the source.
However, water source started getting dried after digging roads by using bulldozers, which damaged the water sources, said Pokharel. “We are bringing drinking water on vehicle from Chhapekhola every day,” she said.
Not only Pokharel but also most of the locals have been affected by road construction. Man Maj Pulami, president of Nepal Red Cross Society, Pyuthan, said that unmanaged development works, lack of water sources preservation while developing infrastructures and extreme exploitation of natural resources have caused depletion of water sources. “If we fail to manage sustainable development, we will have to face serious problems in the future,” he said.
Landslides have occurred in the area of Jhimruk water sources such as Gaumukhi and Naukni frequently. The flow of Jhimrik river has also increased, causing flood and landslides. “As a result, Jhimruk plain is also at risk,” said Pulami. “It needs now to preserve water sources, control flood and landslides, and plant tree saplings.”
At the water discussion program, Damodar Sharma, chairman of Community Forests Uders Federation, Pyuthan, said that haphazard road construction affected water sources by damaging, filling and pushing to get dry. “The road construction linking Pyuthan and Arghakhachi is undergoing. In course of road construction, contractors have destruct water sources and pipelines, and again fill there,” he said.
Provincial lawmaker Khadka said that development has also brought destruction. “So we have to have to follow the principle of sustainable development goals. We need to protect water sources,” he said.
The provimcial government has allocated budget to develop roads from Palpa to Rukum along Mahabharat range. “We are thinking about how to protect environment,” he said. “We are planning to build cultural stages, ponds by blocking streams, develop ponds at every hill and villages,” he claimed.
The provincial government will coordinate with local governments, organizations and media to conserve water bio-diversity, he said. Amar Dhoj Rana, chairman of Mallarani Rural Municipality, said that drinking water problems persist in all wards except 3 and 4.
There is acute drinking water shortage during dry season. “Local body alone cannot solve the problem,” said Rana. “Provincial government also should help us and all the stakeholders need to coordinate to solve the problem,” he said.
Expert Bhashkar Chaudhari of USAID Rapti Water Zone highlighted on the water project, condition of Jhimruk Water Zone, its problems and possibilities. Prabesh Kakshyapati, officer of Mallarani Rural Development Concern Center informed about the progress of the works.
Seven commitments including not harming water sources, and formulating policy to protect natural and biodiversity were pledged. They also include water recharging, developing ponds, and developing executing plans for province and local government and implementing them. The commitments are as following:
- Develop infrastructure without damaging water sources.
- Formulate policies to protect water biodiversity and implement it.
- Formulation of working plans for construction of conservation ponds at every hill in province and local levels.
- Develop artificial ponds in coordination with ward offices under local government and plant saplings.
- Formulation of policies to preserve water sources and implementation of working plans by local levels.
- Give priority to make lift drinking water projects sustainable and support them.
- Manage grazing grounds and control wild fires.
