Gaighat, April 10

People in Keurini, Gadi Rural Municipality of Udayapur have been reeling under acute shortage of water.

Around 50 Sarki households in the village have been facing drinking water crisis with the onset of summer. “There is no concrete plan for water management in the locality. We have no option but to travel for hours in search of water,” regretted Devi Sarki, a local.

Though all households of Udaypurgadi Rural Municipality have drinking water supply, Keurini does not get enough water during dry season every year.

Khil Raj Karki, staff at the rural municipality office, said his office had provided two lakh rupees for the repair and renovation of a well in the village. The well, however, has turned dry.

Locals have to walk three hours to fetch water from Chuladhunga village, said Karki. “The government has ignored our woes may be because we belong to the Dalit community,” said local Dhan Bahadur Sarki.

Though the area was declared an Open Defecation Free zone three years ago, villagers have failed to maintain the status for want of water. “At a time when we don’t have enough water to drink, water for toilet and washing purposes is a far cry,” said another local Champa Sarki. Newa, an NGO, had carried out a detailed survey aiming to launch a drinking water project in the locality last year. They were preparing to manage water supply from Thapa Khola of Panchawati, Harrabhanjyang, which is four km away from the settlement. The plan however has not been realised yet.