Ilam, March 17:

Locals of Ilam bazaar, the district headquarters of Ilam, have been facing acute water crisis after pipes of Gitang Drinking Water Project were snapped recently.

The Ilam municipality office today said it would be able to supply water once in every 36 hours until the pipes were repaired.

Hoteliers have been the hardest hit. As the water supply was halted without any prior notice on Monday, hoteliers have not been able to serve food to their customers.

“As regular supply of water has been disrupted, we are forced to rely on natural sources of water,” Rajesh Shrestha of Ilam-2 said. Students and job holders staying in rented rooms are also badly hit.

Similarly, the construction works in Ilam bazaar have also come to a halt due to water scarcity. “As there is no source of water nearby, the construction work in the headquarters has been halted,” Amid Ansari, a construction worker said.

“We are trying to make sure that the pipes are repaired soon,” Dinesh Kafle, a staff at Ilam municipality, said, adding, “Attempts are also underway to increase drinking water supply in Ilam bazaar.”