Bhanu Bhakta Acharya

Hetauda, February 23

Though technology for improving water mills has been brought in Makwanpur district, most water mills are still being operated traditionally.

Income from traditional water mills is barely enough to sustain livelihoods. There are 775 traditional water mills in Makwanpur district. Most of the owners of these mills are not even in a condition to support their families from the income they make.

Bir Bahadur Rumba of Haandi Khola said it is like reading a never-ending story. Income from the mill does not support his family of seven, though he works the whole day in the mill. Hari Prasad Sharma narrates a similar story, who works in a water mill at Simat Bakaiya. Sharma said that his expense is double than his income.

Most water mills in the area are established near riverbanks or near canals which get displaced during the monsoon period or when water in the canals go dry. The mills at Manhari, Rapti, Simat Bakaiya, Kulekhani, Samari, Palung, Kogate, Jyamire, Bhimphedi and Bhainse rivers mostly grind maize, wheat, millet and other grains.

A recent study done by Rural Technology Centre (RTC) showed that the condition of most mills are dire. Since they are situated near riverbanks and canals, they fall prey to natural disasters every year and remain closed during half of the year. The flood in BS 2050 rendered more than 100 mills beyond repair and maintenance. The flood in BS 2059 swept away more than 150 mills. Mill-owners keep their fingers crossed whenever the monsoon comes.

After the commissioning of Kulekhani hydropower project, 46 mills near the Indrasarowar lake (the biggest artificial lake in the country) have become displaced.

Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), with RTC has brought in technology for improving the water mills. The RTC has also started workshops and savings and accounting packages for mill owners for the improvement of water mills. According to the Makwanpur District Development Committee, 2,200 water mills have been registered in Makwanpur.

The cost of setting up an improved water mill is high and hence, poor owners have been unable to do so. A new water mill costs Rs 0.1 million while improving an old one costs Rs 6,300 only, informed Basanta Raj Lamichhane, technician at RTC. He added that after improvement, the capacity of a mill increases three folds. It can then grind around 60 kg of grain and produce 3-KW electricity.

Grains grounded in modern grinding mills lead to the loss of nutritious elements. It is also not good for storing for a long period of time, while flour grounded in traditional mills retain the goodness of the grain and could be stored for months.