DHANDING: Fetching drinking water has been an arduous and time-consuming task for the Chepang populace of Mahadev VDC Ward No 3 of Dhading since long.

Although it is difficult to believe, the Chepangs have been walking for more than three hours to fetch a pitcher of drinking water.

Although the 24 households are deprived of the water for years, the authorities concerned are yet to act to address their long-persisting plight. Patali Chepang, a local resident, said that the villagers were compelled to spend the whole morning to fetch a pitcher of water. They lament as their earlier pleas to the concerned failed to yield any outcome to ease their life. The lack of water bodies in the area and drought have also been resulting in food shortage every year.

Some locals had even initiated a drinking water project in the area but that too could not be moved ahead due to lack of enough budget.