Kathmandu, December 19
Only one third of the demand in Kathmandu Valley is supplied with water. Despite the daily
demand of about 430 million liters of water in the Kathmandu Valley, Kathmandu Upatyaka
Khanepani Limited produces and distributes less than one third of it, i.e., only about 130 million liters.
Although 130 million liters of water could be provided daily in December, January and February, only 110 million liters of water is distributed daily in April and May, the company said. About 160 million liters of water is distributed during the rainy season. With the onset of dry season, there is shortage of drinking water in Kathmandu Valley. Drinking water has become a problem after the water of the Upatyaka source started decreasing after Pus. When there is no running water, the people of the valley are forced to make alternative arrangements.
Spokesperson Prakash Kumar Rai said that the company has connected 237,000 taps in the
Kathmandu Valley. He says that the stolen stream is also found from time to time.
In Kathmandu Valley, water is collected, treated and distributed from Sundarijal,
Mahadevkhola, Nakhu Muhan, Shesh Narayan, Hititol, Satmul, Kuturi, Devaki Vasuki,
Balkhukhola, Muldol, Charghare, Bishnumati, Panchmane, Chhare, Alle, Mahadevkhola and
other places. Out of these sources, most of the water of Bagmati river is collected and
distributed in Sundarijal.
Since there is not enough water collected from natural resources, ground water is being
extracted and distributed in some places. At present, the company extracts, treats and
distributes groundwater in about 80 places in the Kathmandu Valley. Spokesperson Rai said
that the company is preparing to add about 10 million liters of water from underground sources this year.
A study has shown that the demand for water in the Kathmandu Valley increases by about 10 percent every year. It is said that there is shortage of drinking water due to increasing
population, increase in construction of houses and other physical infrastructure and drying up of natural resources. Kathmandu Upatyaka Drinking Water Management Board has entered into an agreement with the Ltd. to arrange water distribution in the Upatyaka for 30 years. For this, the company must pay two percent of the tariff to the board.
Provision has been made in the agreement to pay separate fee for the property of the board. The Board has given the responsibility of water management in the Kathmandu Valley to the Limited since March 20, 2008.
In order to solve the problem of drinking water in Kathmandu Valley, separate arrangements have been made separately from the Nepal Water Supply Corporation, but no significant change has taken place. The problem of drinking water has not been solved. People are still waiting for Melamchi for drinking water problem in the capital.
By Karuna Thapa
