Water supply disruption leaves Dhankuta high and dry

Dhankuta, June 11

Locals of Dhankuta Municipality are reeling under acute shortage of drinking water after water supply from Nibuwa Khola got disrupted due to flood.

People of Wards 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 have been facing water crisis for the last one week. Drinking water crisis hit the locals hard after the flood in the Nibuwa Khola blocked the pipelines with sand and mud. The construction company had completed the project at a cost of Rs 26 crore and 12 lakh. After completion of the project, people were expecting 24-hour water supply but their expectations were dashed in the very beginning of monsoon season.

Chief District Officer Manohar Prasad Khanal, along with drinking water consumers’ committee representatives, security department and mediapersons, among others, reached the river and took stock of the situation. CDO Khanal said the pumping stations could not be operated due to blockage. He said that it would take at least 27 hours to clear the blockage.

Municipal Drinking water and Sanitation Consumer Committee Chair Dorna Prasad Guragain said the water got mixed with mud and sand due to poorly managed road expansion work in the area. He said random road expansion had created problems with the beginning of the rainy season. “The machine could be damaged if water mixed with mud was pumped through the system.”

There are 3,400 consumers in the municipal areas.

Medical superintendent at District Hospital Dr Phanendra Baral said the staffers and patients had been facing problem due to lack of water. The hospital development committee Chief Sunil Dangol said that 50,000 litres of water reserved in a water tank had already finished five days ago. Birendra Shrestha, a staffer at the record department said seasonal patients had increased. “We are facing problems treating patients due to water scarcity,” he added.

Similarly, the water crisis has also hit the district prison. Prison In-charge Chhabilal Bhandari said they had been facing acute shortage of water for the last three days. He said around 5,000 litres of water was needed in the prison on a daily basis.