Kathmandu, October 13:

Hit hard by the scarcity of potable water, locals in Patan have taken an initiative to distribute water from Sundhara, a traditional stone spout in Lalitpur-6, through a local distribution channel.

Though the government distribution channel exists in the vicinity of Sundhara, people from Ward No 6, 7, 8 and 15 depend on the stone spout for water.

The government distribution channel provides water once in around every five days and the locals had no option but to consume the water from the stone spout on other days. They are seen standing in queues for hours to fetch the water.

To end water crisis in the locality, a local club — Prabhat Pariwar — with financial support from UN-HABITAT and technical assistance of Centre for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD), is planning to collect the water from the stone spout from 9 pm to 4 am everyday in a reservoir, treat it and supply it to the locals.

“After the completion of the project, some 200 households would get 200 to 500 litres of water everyday,” said Manoj Chipalu, president of the club.

Chipalu said the water would be collected in a 50,000 litre underground reservoir before it is lifted to a 10,000 litre overhead tank, chlorinated and distributed to locals. This will not

only save water from being wasted but will also save time and labour of the locals, Chipalu hoped.

“The total cost of the project is Rs 3 million. The UN-HABITAT is supposed to provide Rs 8 lakhs and the remaining sum will be collected from locals,” he added.

PS Joshi, executive director of Centre for Integrated Urban Development, said the three big spouts and a small spout in Sundhara discharge around 100,000 litres of water everyday.

“Patan is always facing acute shortage of water. This kind of projects will help the locals to get sufficient water and preserve alternative water sources,” he added.

The project will commence after Tihar and is expected to complete within five months.