Damauli, March 19

Lack of budget has kept residents of Bhanu Municipality, Tanahun, waiting for the proposed Marsyangdi Drinking Water Project to materialise.

If everything goes as planned, the proposed drinking water project will be completed in two years and will end the water woes of locals.

According to Tanahun Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office Chief Bikesh Badhanthachhe, the office has taken ahead the process of constructing the drinking water project. The stipulated cost of the project stands somewhere around Rs 190 million.

“As only Rs 4 million was allocated for the project this fiscal, we’ve asked for additional 28 million rupees to complete the project,” said Badhanthachhe, adding that preparations were on to call for tenders within mid-April.

The project is expected to benefit the residents of wards 6, 7, 8 and 9 in Bhanu Municipality.

Meanwhile, the division office has rued the government apathy towards prioritising the drinking water sector as per its commitment.

“Though the government had committed to ensure tap water in each household within two years, achieving the same has been difficult due to lack of budget,” said the division office.