Chure Rural Municipality of Kailali district, which has been facing acute shortage of drinking water, has prioritized the conservation of water sources.
Chure has been facing shortage of drinking water after the water sources started drying up due to various reasons such as haphazard road construction, forest fire, deforestation and climate change.
Chure Rural Municipality has been carrying out various activities in its wards like conserving water sources, planting trees and constructing artificial ponds to resolve the issue of water shortage.
As the water sources have been drying up gradually, people and birds have been facing acute shortage of drinking water. The reasons behind the crisis of water are population growth and expansion of human settlements by destroying the forests.
Chure Rural Municipality Vice-Chairperson Deepa Devi Saud said the decision has been made that the roads can only be constructed by preparing the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) reports. She added the decision will be implemented strictly.
Saud further said the Rural Municipality has been carrying out various awareness programs for tree plantation, conservation of water sources and to prevent open grazing and forest fires.
The Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) on September 6 had organised a discussion program in Chure Rural Municipality pertaining to dryness and conservation of water sources.
After the discussion program, a team from the NEFEJ went for a close field monitoring and found that various works are being carried out to conserve the water sources.
Artificial ponds and fence wires are being constructed around the water sources to bail each ward out of water shortage and lifta drinking water technology has been used by utilizing the water sources.
Ward 3, 5 and 6 of the Rural Municipality have been using the lifta technology to resolve the problem of water shortage.
Ward 3 Chairman Tek Bahadur Shah said various programmes are being organised to conserve the water sources and resolve the problems of parchedness and drinking water shortage.
“We have a plan to construct three recharge water ponds in ward-3 for the conservation of water sources,” he said, adding, “We have already constructed a recharge pond in Sallaeni last year.”
“We are planning to construct two water sources this year. One has already been constructed in Thakurdanda and a committee has been formed to construct another recharge pond in Gyasidhura,” Shah said.
He said that trees worth around Rs 100,000 have been planted in Salaghari Community Forest and a water tank of 80,000 litre has been constructed with a budget of Rs 2 million. He further said that efforts are being made to reach an agreement to install pipelines and meters in coordination with Alternative Energy Promotion Centre.
Shah said Rs 2 million has been allocated from the province government this year and works are being carried out to iron out the issue of water shortage in ward-3.
Likewise, ward-1 Chairman Hukum Bohara said they are working as per the decision of village council to make the ward environment friendly.
“We have been holding group discussions with each consumers’ committee of ward-1 to encourage the officials to plant trees for the conservation of water sources and to stop open grazing among other issues,” he said.
Works are being made to conserve water sources in ward-5 of the Rural Municipality. Ward-5 Chairman Nara Bahadur Tamang said open grazing has been stopped for the conservation of water sources. He said three recharge ponds have been constructed in his ward.
“Around 30/35 households are using water from the same water source which was conserved with the initiative of locals. The construction of water tank has been completed by using lifta drinking water technology in Bhasugaun and Nigaladi at a total cost of Rs 300, 000,” he said.
He said that they are planning to coordinate with the organisations working in the field of drinking water and seek fund from the province government to buy pipes and solar panels, among others, to distribute the drinking water.
Hem Kumari Gharti Magar of Phaltude said they won’t have to walk for three-four hours daily to fetch water after lifta drinking water technology was used in Ward-6.
“We had to face a lot of difficulty in the past. Now, we are happy that we don’t have to walk for hours to fetch water,” she said.
Along with Hemu, people of around 185 households have breathed a sigh of relief due to the lifta drinking water technology.
Ward-6 Chairman Prem Bahadur Saud said they have started a campaign ‘One house, One tap’ by eliminating dependence on water sources and river for drinking water.
Rural Village Water Resources Management Project (RVWRMP), which has been working in the field of drinking water, has been working in Ward-6 in coordination with Rural Municipality.
Ward Chairman Saud said, “Phaltude Drinking Water Project in Ward-6 has become successful with our tireless effort and some works are yet to be completed. The work of lift has been completed. The work of distribution is going on in full swing. The province and central government has donated fund for the same.”
He said the lifta drinking water project will be sufficient for 185 households in Ward-6 with 800 households.
Works are being carried out to clean and install fence wires around the water sources and an artificial pond has been constructed in Dhungana, he said. Because of which people have been able to irrigate their vegetable farms.
Ward Chairman Saud said they are coordinating with the land conservation for the construction of recharge pond this year also.
The NEFEJ had done a follow-up once again on March 10 regarding the achievements made in the discussion held in August. During the discussion, officials had committed to fulfill the commitment, stop open grazing in some wards and conserve biodiversity.
