Himalayan News Service

Lalitpur, February 27:

Locals of Alok Hiti area at ward no 22 of Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City have formed a committee to construct an underground water reservoir to collect the water from the Alok Hiti, a stone spout.

Construction of the reservoir is expected to meet the water demand of additional 150 families in the area.

They have already constructed a pipeline to supply water to some hundred families living in the area. Coordinator of Alok Hiti Conservation and Drinking Water Committee, Sushil Shrestha said that the construction of underground reservoir will start from May. He said, “We are working out on a new plan with new consumers.”

The committee has requested the Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City for financial support, he said. This is the third phase of the project for supplying water from Alok Hiti to the locals there. In the first phase of the project, water tapped from three stone spouts of Alok Hiti during 6 to 11 pm is collected in a 10,000-litre reservoir and supplied to 180 families and every household is charged Rs 100 monthly for using the water. The construction of overhead reservoir was possible only after each water user household made a contribution of Rs 6,000. In the second phase the locals have initiated conservation of the water source at Alok Hiti. Locals, the water user’s committee and the LMC contributed to meet the budget of Rs 550,000 for the conservation of the water source. The Environment and Public Health Organisations (ENPHO) has planned to present Alok Hiti as a model project to demonstrate proper use of water from stone spout, otherwise wasted.

The stone spout dates back to the 15th century and was renovated in 1952. Of late it was renovated in 2003 and brought into proper utilisation.