Bajura, October 15

Locals of Siradi village of Budinanda Municipality in Bajura are compelled to drink water from a polluted local river since many years.

As many as 158 households have been reeling under an acute shortage of drinking water and have been drinking water from the polluted Badigand Khola.

There are no water sources near the village. Water spouts constructed under a drinking water project many years ago in the village have not been brought to use.

A local, Afi Karki, said the water project in the village had remained out of operation even though the villagers frequented concerned offices in the district and at the central level. “We, time and again, requested leaders from different political parties and officials from concerned authorities to bring the project into operation, but in vain,” he added.

The locals have pinned their hopes on locals level representatives to resolve the problem.

Deputy Mayor of the municipality Shristi Regmi said preparations were under way to start a new drinking water project in the village to resolve the long standing water crisis.

Local heath volunteer Suntali BK said the village was facing the risk of epidemic outbreak and spread of water-borne diseases as the locals were forced to consume impure water from the polluted river.