No part of the country remains unaffected by the shortage of potable water. Biratnagar denizens, for instance, have stopped the supply of drinking water being distributed by the state-run Nepal Drinking Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) after taps in

the region started gurgling out mud and sand particles, instead of clean water. Similarly, in the West, consumers at Butwal have padlocked the local branch of NWSC citing infrequent supply and increasing impurity of drinking water. Kathmandu Valley, for its part, has never had a regular and adequate supply.

Clean drinking water is the basic right of citizens of any country. It is a prerequisite for development of a healthy society in poor countries which are perennially hit by various water-borne diseases. People will have huge expectations of the new republican government. But before lofty expectations are met, it is imperative that people’s basic rights like access to potable water and basic sanitation are ensured. If the society is sick, all big plans and policies will come to a naught. Incredibly, NWSC is still using nearly half-a-century rust-riddled old pipes which, unsurprisingly, are either clogged by metal deposits or close to breaking point. Among the first priorities of any future government should be supplying drinking water to each and every household in the country.