KATHMANDU, Oct 9: The Department of Drinking Water and Sewerage Management (DoDWSM) has initiated efforts to document damage to drinking water and sanitation systems nationwide following floods and landslides triggered by recent heavy rains.
The DoDWSM has issued a circular to its offices across all seven provinces, instructing them to report on the extent of damage. Currently, 15 Drinking Water and Sewerage Management Offices operate under the department nationwide. These offices have been tasked with collecting detailed information on the impact on water supply and sanitation infrastructure and forwarding it to the central department, said Director General Kamal Raj Shrestha.
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“The collected reports will guide both immediate relief measures and long-term rehabilitation planning. They will help identify affected areas, the nature of damage, estimated costs, and prioritize rehabilitation efforts,” Shrestha added.
According to the DoDWSM, the incessant rains on October 3 and 4 severely affected drinking water sources and distribution systems in hilly and steep terrains. Damage includes washed-away pipelines, destroyed intake structures, reservoir tanks buried under mud and stones, submerged motor pumps, and compromised sanitation equipment.
Last year, similar rainfall and landslides caused losses exceeding Rs. 4 billion to the country’s drinking water and sanitation sector, the Ministry of Water Supply reported.
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