"The taps at my home went dry a month ago," said Maharjan. She said that her family is compelled to buy jars of water even for daily chores. "We have been spending Rs 200 for water every day," she added. [break]
Her main grouse with the KUKL, however, is that it has been charging for water to consumers despite its inability to provide them water.
Maharjan had reached the KUKL offices along with 300 other women to protest its inability to supply water to household taps.
"Instead of water, we have been paying for the air," said Biddhya Shrestha, sarcastically.
She said that women of the area have come together to protest against KUKL, as women suffer a lot when the taps go dry.
"We have to struggle even for tanker water. We have to stay in queue for hours to buy tanker water," said Kamala Adhikari, adding, "Due to huge crowd, people start quarreling with each other."
She said that her family members have no choice but to wear unwashed clothes. Adhikari also said that her children complain of not getting to bath frequently.
"My children complain that they feel humiliated in front of their friends as their clothes stink," said another woman.
The KUKL, which is responsible for supplying drinking water to household taps, has said that with the start of dry season, it has been facing such protests more frequently.
"I meet at least one such delegation every day," said Tilak Mohan Pokhrel, distribution section chief of KUKL. He said that due to decline in production, the office is struggling to send water to household taps.
The KUKL had dried the main reservoir at Sundarijal for cleaning that takes about two weeks to complete. The office said that the production of water in the dry season is only about 80 million liters a day, whereas demand is for over 350 million liters.
Related story
Melamchi water for the people outside Ring Road as well: KUKL
